Milan giants battle it out for Ronaldinho

Internazionale are set to fight it out with city rivals AC Milan for the services of Barcelona's in-demand forward Ronaldinho after their president Massimo Moratti confirmed his side's interest.

Ronaldinho's brother and agent Roberto de Assis revealed on Saturday that talks with Milan are at an advanced stage, but that no deal has yet been reached between the player and the Serie A club.

And Moratti is not going to just sit back and watch one of the hottest talents in world football go to his arch rivals without a fight.

'If Ronaldinho goes to Milan, it will also depend on the willingness of Inter,' he said to Italy's Sky television prior to Inter's 2-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday night.

'We will evaluate our options next week.

'We have an exceptional relationship with Barcelona and Ronaldinho's management team so we will have to see.

'We will also have to see if we decide to pursue this to the end, but if the market is open to Milan it is open to us too.'

Inter coach Roberto Mancini copied his Milan counterpart Carlo Ancelotti in singing Ronaldinho's praises after his side restored their four-point advantage at the top of Serie A on Sunday evening.

'He is a great player and a champion and I think such players are interesting to all clubs,' he said.

'He is still relatively young and can still do a lot of good.'