July 21 2002: Ronaldinho, World Cup winner with Brazil in June, returns to the French capital. He confirms he will stay with the French first division club.

August 17: First appearance at Parc des Princes, for the PSG-Ajaccio match, the third game of the season.

September 11: Ronaldinho starts in the 2-1 defeat to Lille in the sixth game of the season and hits his first goal.

September 27: "Leave us alone!", PSG boss Luis Fernandez snaps at the press. "Ronaldinho is staying in Paris, we're not selling him straight away to Real Madrid, Inter or Milan."

December 8-19: PSG rack up two disappointing setbacks. The club are knocked out of the UEFA Cup and the League Cup, with Ronaldinho missing two crucial penalties, first in the 2-3 defeat to Nantes December 8, then at Bordeaux (1-1) on December 19.

January 2 2003: Ronaldinho comes back from Brazil nearly a week late, for "dental reasons". He is hit with a fine and is not warmly welcomed back by his teammates.

"Ronaldinho will leave at the end of the season," a close friend of the player reveals. "I want him to devote himself 100 per cent to PSG," counters Fernandez. The Brazilian is

left out of the first team until February 16.

February 22: PSG lose 3-2 to Guingamp, but Ronaldinho opens the scoring with a strike later voted goal of the season.

March 9: PSG beat Marseille 3-0 for the third time in the season. Ronaldinho scores one and lays on another.

April 19: Substituted during the 1-1 draw at Nantes, Ronaldinho gives the coaching staff an earful in the dugout.

April 27: Hitting both goals against Bordeaux (2-0), Ronaldinho puts PSG into the final of the French Cup.

April 30: Francis Graille, named as Perpere's replacement in the president's chair at the end of the season, states his wish to keep 'Ronnie' on the books.

May 20: "As for Ronaldinho, it's Vahid who will decide," Vahid Halilhodzic says after the 0-0 draw with Rennes at the Parc des Princes. During the match, Ronaldinho is subbed on and shakes the hand of the future PSG coach before taking to the field.

May 31: PSG are beaten 2-1 by Auxerre in the French Cup final. Just days later, negotiations begin between Graille and Roberto Assis, the Brazilian's brother and agent.

June: Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea throw their hats in the ring in the race for the player's signature. Brazil are in France for the Confederations Cup.

July 15-18: United and Barca stay in the hunt to sign 'Ronnie'. Negotiations drag on.

July 19: Ronaldinho joins Barcelona after Manchester United's final offer is thrown out by PSG.