BARCELONA president Jose Luis Nunez last night announced that negotiations between the club and Brazilian striker Ronaldo had been broken off for good and that he now expected the player to join Serie A club Inter Milan.

"Ronaldo is leaving us," said Nunez, adding that Tuesday night's talks with Ronaldo's agents had been "artificial" because "they had already concluded a deal with the Italian club".

Nunez said: "I believe they had already reached an agreement with Inter Milan, because when our meeting was over and we had shaken hands they spoke for almost an hour with the Italian team," Nunez said.

Ronaldo was thought to have agreed a new contract with Barcelona on Tuesday, but the World Footballer of the Year's future was plunged into doubt earlier yesterday when it emerged his advisors had failed to actually sign the contract.

According to a Barcelona spokesman, the signing of the contract, reputed to keeping the Brazilian star at the club till 2006 while doubling his salary to almost £3 million, had been suspended because of objections raised by Ronaldo's advisors over the funding of the deal.

It now appears that the 20-year-old is on his way to Italy. Last week Inter were reported to be ready to make a £50 million bid for the Brazilian, who has scored a record 34 league goals in his first season for Barcelona.