In the hours following the departure of Ronaldinho from FC Barcelona to AC Milan on Tuesday, the Barcelona president Joan Laporta has expressed his gladness at the deal struck with the Italian giants.

Ronaldinho has been touted to leave the Camp Nou cathedral for months and his departure to AC Milan is not at all a surprise. On the contrary, the move was always imminent and now that he has ultimately moved to Milan, there is of course a wave of relief floating in and around Camp Nou.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta and AC Milan vice-president were locked in deep talks on Monday and Tuesday after which the duo came out and presented the deal to the expectant media.

"We have reached the principle of an agreement and Ronaldinho will go to Milan to have a medical with the club," Laporta told reporters.

"I want to thank the effort made by Milan and the player in order for us to be able to reach this agreement. Everyone has done what we had to do."