AC Milan have criticised Barca over their asking price for Ronaldinho, but Ferran Soriano, the Spanish Liga club's vice-president, fired back last night. Soriano described Milan's tactic of negotiating through the press as "the style of last century".

Assis will make it clear to Barca that Milan remain his brother's preferred destination, but Soriano's criticism yesterday has fueled talk that negotiations over a fee are on the verge of collapse.