Ronaldinho earns new AC Milan deal

Ronaldinho’s strong start to the season has prompted contract renegotiations for a pay rise and extension to 2012.

He was only able to complete the move from Barcelona by cutting his wages and forgoing a slice of the transfer fee this summer, but the time has come for Milan to repay that generosity.

Dinho’s salary went from £7m per season at the Nou Camp on a two-year contract to £5.3m on a three-term deal.

At the time it was not known how long it would take the former Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year to get back to his best, but he has already scored four Serie A goals and a crucial winner in the UEFA Cup against Sporting Braga.

Perhaps even more importantly, Ronaldinho is paying for his own transfer fee through the increase in season tickets, sponsors and shirt sales that his arrival has generated.

With this in mind, the club is ready to reward him for his initial generosity by returning his wages to their Barcelona levels.

There will also be an option to extend the contract until June 2012.