Samba great to return home and other red-hot gossip

One of the greatest players of the past decade is set to bring the curtain down on his career back in Brazil. On Tuesday it was announced that Ronaldinho would be returning to his homeland after eight years in Europe to play for Flamengo. The former World Player of the Year enjoyed his best years at Barcelona but has been a pale shadow of his former self since joining AC Milan two seasons ago. Elsewhere, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has admitted that he would be powerless to keep James Milner at the club if he decides he wants to join Manchester City; Fulham have held talks with Swiss national team coach Ottmar Hitzfeld about being Roy Hodgson's successor; and Stoke City are willing to spend £7m to sign defender Maynor Figueroa from Wigan but they face competition from Liverpool for the 27-year-old.