For most of us, the first Monday after the New Year means getting back to the routine after a festive holiday season. Whether it's a return to the classroom or the boardroom, the fact remains that the daily grind has returned.
In European football circles, it means the mid-season transfer window has opened, and with it a mad flurry of player movement is about to begin.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Perhaps better than the actual transfers though are the rumours. Agents, managers, owners, and players themselves tend to use this time of year to float some of the most cockamamie stories in sport just to create buzz and/or leverage, and the first big rumour to make waves may just be the most ridiculous of them all.
Blackburn Rovers have made a £130,000-per-week offer to Ronaldinho.
Venky's Ltd., the new owners of Rovers who gained notoriety last month by stunningly sacking manager Sam Allardyce, has apparently not gotten enough of the headlines. They have reached out to 'Dinho's management with the bid, which is part of a two-and-a-half year contract offer to the Brazilian star.
Ronaldinho is on his way to Brazil to negotiate with a few interested clubs after having received permission to leave his current club AC Milan. He will likely end up with a club in his home country, but any team looking to secure his services in the current window - and that includes Blackburn - will also need to agree to a transfer fee with Milan.
It's fair to say that Blackburn haven't really got much of a chance, in fact I'd say that LA Galaxy would still harbour more hope of signing the two-time World Player of the Year despite having pretty much bowed out of the race about a month ago.
Still, it makes for some good discussion.
Canadian Soccer News will be staying on top of the transfer news and rumours throughout the current window. Look for frequent updates in the coming weeks.