Barcelona‘s Brazilian international striker Ronaldinho has applied for Spanish citizenship, which he could obtain early in 2007, a spokesman for the Catalan club has confirmed. According to Catalunya Radio, the two-time world player of the year, presented the necessary documents himself before a court in Gava, in the Barcelona suburbs, on Wednesday. “The process was started a long time ago and the player is handling the details himself,” a Barcelona club spokesman said Thursday. The 26-year-old former Paris Saint Germain player joined Barcelona in 2003, winning the Champions League with the club last year.

RONALDINHO