MILAN, Italy (AP) Ronaldo wants to leave Internazionale of Milan to "regain the smile he has lost," according to his agent, Alexandre Martins.

The 26-year-old forward, who led the World Cup with eight goals as Brazil won its fifth title, has been with Inter since August 1997, when the Italian club obtained him from Barcelona for a $56 million transfer fee.

Newspaper in Italy and Spain reported last weekend that Ronaldo wants to join Real Madrid, the current European club champion.

"It's not a problem of money, Ronaldo only wants to regain the happiness and the best conditions in which to play soccer," Martins was quoted as saying by the Italian news agency ANSA.

ANSA reported Ronaldo will be in Milan on Tuesday to convince Inter officials to let him leave. Club officials were not available for comment Monday.

Ronaldo, the FIFA player of the year in 1996 and 1997, has had a difficult time during his stay with Inter, which hasn't won the Italian League since 1989. He tore a right knee ligament Nov. 21, 1999, and had surgery nine days later.

He returned on April 12, 2000, but collapsed just seven minutes after entering a game and had second operation the following day. He didn't play another competitive game until last Sept. 20.

He played badly during Brazil's 3-0 loss to France in the 1998 World Cup final after being taken to a hospital because of convulsions earlier in the day, but scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Germany in this year's World Cup final.

His 12 career World Cup goals matched Pele for the most among Brazilian players.

The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press.