Inter Milan coach Leonardo is set to be appointed sporting director of one of his former clubs, French giant Paris Saint-Germain, according to a source close to the ongoing discussions.
The source said that confirmation of Leonardo's appointment would come by the end of the week.
According to several French and Italian newpapers, the 41-year-old former AC Milan coach flew to Qatar last weekend to meet the new owners of PSG to negotiate terms.
Leonardo's arrival would be the first stage in a complete overhaul of PSG since a Qatari investment company acquired a 70 percent majority shareholding in the club at the end of May.
According to the source, Nasser al-Khelaifi, owner of Qatari TV channel Al Jazeera Sport, will be president of the board, replacing Sebastien Bazin, head of the European branch of Colony Capital, the US investment company which was the previous majority shareholder.
Al Jazeera Sport recently won the rights to broadcast Ligue 1 matches overseas for a price of 200 million euros ($284 million) over six years. Leonardo, capped 60 times and a member of the Brazil squad that won the 1994 World Cup, played for PSG in the 1996-97 season.