Kenyon dismisses Ronaldinho talk
Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon met Barcelona president Joan Laporta for coffee today – but insisted a move for Ronaldinho was not on the agenda.
Kenyon said Chelsea will not make any last-minute signings before the transfer window closes tomorrow night.
The London club have been linked with Ronaldinho but Kenyon dismissed that report – as well as claims of a swap deal involving Shaun Wright-Phillips and Tottenham’s Jermaine Defoe, and that Jose Mourinho wanted to sign Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma.
Kenyon, in Monaco ahead of the Champions League draw, said: “We are 24 hours away and it’s fair to say that our plans are complete.”
Asked if Laporta might be keen to avoid him, he replied: “Not at all – in fact I’ve just had a coffee with him!”
It is thought Ronaldinho’s brother and agent Roberto de Assis Moreira has been ramping up talk of a move to Chelsea to try to raise the stakes in talks over a new contract with Barcelona.
Ronaldinho is reported to have a buy-out clause in his current contract – but interested parties would have to stump up £83m.
