Ronaldinho: Rumors Bite the Dust, Star Is Ready To Extend Milan Stay

Here is the thing about transfer rumors. If a high class player is heavily linked with your team, be ready to get your hopes dashed.

You are all excited. You hear a player is rumored to be interested in your club. You start saving your money to buy his shirt when he signs and have dreams of what could be that season.

I know this because I am an AC Milan fan. I have been ready to buy a shirt with the name Fabiano, Ibrahimovic, Dzeko, Dempsey, Honda, or Donovan all summer and Fabiano and Dzeko for two years. I am in expert in having these dreams dashed.

LA Galaxy, Flamengo, and West Ham supporters, welcome to the club.

ESPNSoccernet  and several other sources are revealing that Brazilian star Ronaldinho is said to be ready to extend his contract with AC Milan until the end of the 2013/14 season.

The two time FIFA World Player of the Year and former World Cup and Champions' League winner arrived at Milan in style in 2008 with a grand celebration at the San Siro. Milan were able to persuade him to snub Manchester City and leave Barcelona to join the Serie A outfit.

After an injury plagued campaign in 2008/09, Ronaldinho saw a return to form this term, leading Milan with fifteen goals in all competition.

After Dunga's somewhat shocking decision to leave the forward off of Brazil's World Cup roster, Ronaldinho, 30, is hoping for one last go about in 2014, when the world turns its eyes to his native Brazil, the host of the 2014 World Cup.

Following his great campaign in 2009/10, "the Gaucho" has been linked with several clubs, including most notably Los Angeles, Flamengo, and West Ham. Olympiacos, Fluminese, and Manchester City also were reportedly interested.

Ronaldinho's current contract expires in June of next year, but brother-agent Roberto de Assis has all but closed the door on the bipolar game of "will he, won't he" that has surrounded his brother all summer.

"We are ready to respect the current contract and then we will talk about an extension," he said. "When we sit down at the table to extend his contract, we will sign a deal which expires June 30, 2014. There won't be any problems. There's no rush - it's only a formality."