MANCHESTER City manager Mark Hughes is playing a waiting game over Ronaldinho as talks continue to sign the Brazil playmaker from FC Barcelona.
The former player of the year was in Shanghai yesterday for a promotional event.
Ronaldinho has two years left on his Camp Nou contract, but has become surplus after a disappointing, injury-prone season.
“He is a world star and if these things are going to happen, they are likely to take a bit of time and we are patient,” Hughes said on Wednesday. “In the discussions he has had with the club, I think he is very positive about the idea of coming here.
“It is a process that is ongoing. It has not slowed in any way shape or form and there is no immediate deadline.”
Hughes told Ronaldinho that City is the platform to revitalize his career and he could be further tempted after compatriot Jo joined City on Tuesday from CSKA Moscow.
“Perhaps in the last 18 months he has not reached his potential,” Hughes said. “We are offering him an opportunity that will stimulate him and enable him to get back to the level he was at before.
“I think it could be an interesting idea for him. Maybe what we are doing here would attract him more than going to an established Champions League club.”
City unveiled Jo for what the Premier League team described as a “club record transfer fee.”
The 21-year-old forward signed a four-year contract with City after scoring 44 goals in 77 games for CSKA.
City did not give the fee while announcing the transfer, but it beats the 13 million pounds City paid Fenerbahce for France striker Nicolas Anelka in June 2002.
British papers have speculated that City, which is owned by former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has agreed to pay 19 million pounds (US$37.9 million).
Having joined CSKA in 2005 from Corinthians, Jo helped the club win two Russian Super Cups, the Russian league title and the Russian Cup.