Ronaldinho has been unsettled at Paris Saint Germain, who lost to Auxerre in the French Cup final on Saturday, and with United manager Alex Ferguson watching, the English champions look favourites to sign him.

"I admire Manchester United and I love watching them play," Ronaldinho told the Independent on Sunday.

"Of course I would like to be at a great club like that -- anybody would.

"The idea of joining Manchester United makes me dream, because they are a big, successful club and play my kind of football. I have a burning desire to be involved with a club that plays in big games all the time."

The 23-year-old says he is particularly keen to play in the Champions League and his appetite has been whetted further by watching his friend and Brazil team mate Gilberto getting a taste of the competition with Arsenal.

"I look at that competition and it makes me desperate to get involved. It's like being a kid by a pool -- you just want to jump in," he said.

"He (Gilberto) told me how much he was loving his football and that has made me want the same thing."

Ronaldinho has scored 12 goals in 31 games for Brazil but is known predominantly for just one of them, the 35-metre lob over England keeper David Seaman in the World Cup quarter-finals -- a goal he admitted had an element of luck about it.

"It was definitely a shot, but if I'm being totally honest I was aiming for the other side of the net," he said.

"I was aware of the keeper's position and went for the shot at goal. The fact that it did not go in exactly how I planned is secondary to the fact that I was having a go.

"I suppose there was an element of luck involved but a goal is a goal and it is irrelevant how it goes in.

"Had I not scored that goal I doubt whether any of the big clubs would be showing such a keen interest in me now."