Ronaldinho joins Atletico Mineiro after Fla spat

Former Brazil star Ronaldinho, having quit Flamengo last week amid claims he is owed some 20 million dollars in salary, on Monday signed for modest top flight side Atletico Mineiro.

"We are happy to announce we have managed to bring Ronaldinho to Atletico," said his new club president Alexandre Kalil on the team website after netting the 32-year-old former Barcelona and Milan star and ex-world player of the year.

Ronaldinho, World Cup winner in 2002, will receive around 150,000 dollars in basic salary a season compared with nearer 600,000 at Flamengo, according to Lancenet web portal.

Pele meanwhile defended Ronaldinho amid criticism of his recent showings for "Fla".

"I think it's a little unjust - he is no longer the Ronaldinho of ten years ago but he is talented... Flamengo are not doing well and as a result neither is Ronaldinho."