Ronaldinho predicts Brazil will win 2006 World Cup
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-01 09:17

Ronaldinho predicted Thursday that reigning champions Brazil will win the World Cup in Germany next year.

"We know it will be very difficult, but we believe we will win again," Ronaldinho said in Athens, where he was to attend Greece's first-division fixtures draw.

Ronaldinho captained Brazil to a 4-1 win over Argentina in Wednesday's Confederations Cup final. The Barcelona striker contrasted that result with a 3-1 away defeat against Argentina in a World Cup qualifier on June 8.

"Then (in Argentina) we had 30 chances and scored one goal, and yesterday we had 15 chances and scored four goals."

Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo said Thursday that Spain's league champions, FC Barcelona, had offered Ronaldinho a contract aimed at keeping him for the rest of his career.

Ronaldinho said that he was "very happy" at Barcelona.

"I have three years left on my contract with Barcelona ... I'm not thinking of anything except Barcelona at the moment," he said.

Ronaldinho, whose current contract expires in 2008, would earn ？26 million (US$152 million), Mundo Deportivo said.

The fee paid to secure Ronaldinho's attendance on Thursday caused widespread Greek media comment.

Ronaldinho received ？00,000 (US$360,000) from league organizer EPAE, according to daily Ta Nea. The total cost of his two-day visit was ？00,000 (US$600,000), the paper said.

"A fortune for a one-hour fiesta," Ta Nea said. "The provocative amount of money is not expected to improve Greek soccer."

But EPAE vice president Victor Mitropoulos said sponsors were covering expenses. The 16-team league starts late August.

Ta Nea claimed EPAE turned to Ronaldinho after Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho and England captain David Beckham declined invitations.

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