Barcelona, July 20: World Cup winner Ronaldinho passed his medical exam at FC Barcelona today, completing his 30 million Euro (US$33.8 million) transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. "Ronaldinho passed all the tests satisfactorily, with a good attitude, and he is in excellent physical condition," Barcelona team doctor Jordi Ardevol said, according to the FC Barcelona’s official website.
The 23-year-old Brazilian signed a five-year contract yesterday after Barcelona reached agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to pay a 25 million Euro (US$28 million) transfer fee and up to another million (US$5.6 million) depending on the team's performance. The signing ends a bidding war between Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid, and gives the struggling Catalan team the kind of high-profile player that president Joan Laporta promised when he campaigned for his new job.
Laporta had tried to land David Beckham, but the Manchester United star ultimately signed with Real Madrid. Ronaldinho becomes the latest in a list of illustrious Brazilians to play at Barcelona -- Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo.
The deal is the latest in a series of summer acquisitions designed to rescue a team that flirted with relegation last season. Bureau Report