Manchester City's interest in signing Barcelona and Brazil striker Ronaldinho seems to have waned over fears about the player's fitness. The 2005 Fifa Player of the Year lined out in a charity match in Venezuela on Sunday and was clearly overweight.

City had reportedly offered the 2002 World Cup winner a deal worth around £200,000 a week in what was being described as one of the biggest transfer coups in the history of the Premier League. But according to the truth hounds at the Daily Mail, new Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is reported to be concerned about Ronaldinho's fitness level and ballooning weight.

The charity match was the Brazilian star's first game back after missing the last two months of the Spanish season with a knee injury. New Barca boss Pep Guardiola recently confirmed that Ronaldinho is surplus to requirements at the Camp Nou this season and will be sold.