" Man Utd set Ronaldinho deadline"
Manchester United have told Paris St Germain and Ronaldinho´s advisors they have until 1800 BST on Saturday to reach a deal or the Old Trafford club will withdraw their offer.
The transfer has dragged its heels for several weeks and United are keen to have the situation resolved one way or the other.
United chief executive Peter Kenyon has held several meetings with PSG president Francis Graille and made a firm offer for the player on Friday.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson wanted the player signed in time to leave with the rest of the United squad for their pre-season tour of America.
Unless an agreement is reached by 1800 BST Saturday, Man Utd will withdraw from the process
Man Utd statement
But United departed on Saturday with the transfer still hanging in the balance.
" Negotiations between Manchester United and Paris St Germain and representatives of Ronaldinho have been ongoing for several weeks," said a United statement.
" In order to bring talks to a conclusion the club has spoken again to Paris St Germain and the players´ representatives.
" And following our final written offer submitted on Friday morning, we have notified all parties that unless an agreement is reached by 1800 BST Saturday, Manchester United will withdraw from the process."
Barcelona are also interested in signing the player, while Ronaldinho´s agent Roberto Assis has also made it clear that he wants closure on one of the summer´s most protracted transfers.
Assis, who is also Ronaldinho´s brother, said: " It is a very complex transfer due to the amount of money that PSG are requesting, and also due to what the clubs are prepared to pay.
" We have given an ultimatum for the situation to be resolved by this weekend.
" That does not mean that Ronaldinho will stay with Paris. We are confident that the club will meet an agreement in the next 48 hours."
If United do withdraw their offer for Ronaldinho they may try to sign Damien Duff from Blackburn.
Chelsea had a £17m bid accepted for the Republic of Ireland international, but the player seems unwilling to move to London.
Duff´s representative Pat Devlin has already hinted that Duff would relish a move to Old Trafford.
" Manchester United have been playing around with the Ronaldinho thing a lot," admitted Devlin.
" But if they put the same effort into signing Damien I´m sure he would be on his way to America with them by now.
While Ronaldinho´s future hangs in the balance the player remains in his native Brazil and has had his wages suspended by PSG after failing to turn up for pre-season training.