AC Milan made their interest in the Barcelona star known at the beginning of April when both coach Carlo Ancelotti and club president Silvio Berlusconi announced their intentions to bring him to the San Siro at the end of the season.

More recently neighbours Inter have joined the hunt, with their president Massimo Moratti warning on Sunday "if the market is open to Milan it is open to us too".

Speaking to French TV station Canal+ on Sunday De Assis reiterated that no deal had yet been done between Milan and Barcelona, but said the Rossoneri remain in the driving seat of any possible deal.

"Milan are enthusiastic about the signing of Ronaldinho," he said.

"People are a lot more together on where we stand for next season, but that's not to say the deal is done.

"At the moment we (Ronaldinho and De Assis) have a contract with Barca and we can't say the move is definite. But Milan have an advantage."

Milan seemed to be at a distinct disadvantage following their 3-2 defeat to Juventus on Saturday which left them four points adrift of the final Champions League spot in Serie A.

Inter, meanwhile, are four points clear of Roma at the top of the league and are certain to be in Europe's top competition next season.

But De Assis allayed Milan's fears that Champions League football may sway his brother's decision, saying on Saturday: "Ronaldinho would like to play for a big club and Milan are certainly in that category."

Milan technical director Adriano Galliani also confirmed on Saturday that negotiations with the player were moving along well while a deal with his club was yet to be struck.

He announced: "There's an agreement with Ronaldinho, but we still lack an agreement with Barcelona."

According to both Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport and Spain's Marca newspapers, an offer of 20 million euros has been made by Milan, while Marca add that Barca have returned that with a counter-offer of 30 million euros.

Whichever Milan club he choices, it now seems highly likely that he will leave the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

When asked by Canal+ if his brother was happy at Barca, De Assis replied: "There's respect. I'm not saying there's happiness, but there's respect.

"It is not only a bad season for Ronaldinho, but for all the team. It isn't a nice situation, but that's how it is."