Manchester United emerged from a day of extensive negotiations with Paris St-Germain yesterday convinced they have all but finalised Ronaldinho's transfer to Old Trafford. The player is in Brazil discussing the move with his family but has provisionally agreed a five-year deal, with an annual salary of £3.2million, settled in principle through his brother and agent Roberto Assis.

Peter Kenyon, United's chief executive, broke off from negotiating with potential buyers for David Beckham to spend the day in France hoping to conclude a deal that would make Ronaldinho the first Brazilian to play for the club. He has offered £ 9million(14.7-million-dollar) and, although PSG wanted a figure closer to £12million, Valencia and Juventus have been unwilling to follow up their inquiries by getting involved in an auction.

And Beckham's departure was virtually sealed as Real Madrid reportedly attempted to hijack Barcelona's bid for the England skipper.

Real president Florentino Perez tried last night to contact Beckham on holiday in America to express their interest.

Perez insisted last month Real did not want Beckham - now he most definitely does.

Not least because he does not want their most hated rivals to secure such a big signing.

Also, he wants his good friend Lluis Bassat to win the Barcelona presidency vote ahead of Joan Laporta, who is behind the club's Beckham bid.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, currently on holiday in southern France, was kept abreast of yesterday's events

and is awaiting confirmation from Ronaldinho's advisers.

PSG officials said last night it was "99.9% certain he will leave for Manchester".

After a year-long pursuit of the 23-year-old, Ferguson will hope the move happens sooner rather than later, preferably before Brazil play in the Confederations Cup in France later this month. If, as Kenyon is increasingly optimistic, PSG accept £ 9million, United will also reflect on a piece of sound business given that they were quoted £18million after Ronaldinho had starred in the World Cup last summer.

The arrival of one of the world's most high-profile players will ease the sense of disquiet among United's fans, who are growing increasingly resigned to the idea of Beckham being sold.

Kenyon's admission that he had spent Tuesday in London negotiating a £30million deal with Sandro Rosell, a representative of Laporta, has effectively ended the argument about whether United intend to sell the England captain.

It also enticed the first admission from Beckham's representatives that a move is possible. "He has said that he wants to stay with United," said Jon Holmes, the managing director of SFX. "If the club alter their view - and it needs all parties to change their view -then, of course, everything is possible in football."

Kenyon also discussed the possibility of United signing Patrick Kluivert with Rosell, although it is unlikely they will want him as well as Ronaldinho. Ferguson sees Ronaldinho as the ideal partner to play just behind Ruud van Nistelrooy. Where that leaves Paul Scholes, who scored 20 goals from that position last season, remains to be seen