Ronaldinho ... on the way out of Barcelona - File

BARCELONA, Spain (AP):

NEGOTIATIONS FOR the transfer of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Deco are "advanced", an FC Barcelona official said yesterday.

"The club is planning the season with the idea that these players won't be there. We are in advanced negotiations for them to move to other clubs," Barcelona's vice-president for financial affairs, Ferran Soriano, was quoted as saying by news agency Europa Press.

Soriano did not name the clubs involved but AC Milan has expressed interest in Eto'o, while Portugal midfielder Deco could join his national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea or his former coach José Mourinho at Inter Milan.

Courted by Man City

Ronaldinho, who has lost his status as the world's best player after a poor season, is currently being courted by Manchester City. Milan have opted out, according to vice president Adriano Galliani, who said the Italians cannot compete financially with the club owned by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Manchester City have offered the Brazilian (Ronaldinho) €12 million a year. We can only compete with that if they (Barcelona) give him away for free," Galliani was quoted as saying by daily Gazzetta dello Sport, yesterday.

While new manager Pep Guardiola said at his presentation on Tuesday that Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Deco aren't in his plans, Soriano said this did not mean they would be sold for reduced transfer fees.

"They will only leave if a satisfactory solution is found for all parties. If not, they will stay and the coach has already said he will include them," he said.

Guardiola, together with sporting director Txiki Begiristain, has already offloaded full back Gianluca Zambrotta to Milan, forward Giovani Dos Santos to Tottenham and midfielder Edmilson to Villarreal.

Not confirmed

Sevilla midfielder Seydou Keita, Manchester United defender Gerard Pique and Villarreal left back Martin Caceres have joined, while Sevilla right back Daniel Alves says he has signed, although the clubs have yet to confirm this.

Barcelona finished third in the Spanish league this past season, 18 points behind champion Real Madrid - their worst showing in five years. The Catalan team has not won a major trophy for two years.