He just can’t help it: Brazil’s football legend Ronaldinho is reportedly on the verge of a sensational comeback at the age of 46. His goal is the Italian Serie C.
PR stunt or more? Either way: FC Ravenna is in for a real coup. Apparently none other than Ronaldinho wants to revive his impressive career with the Italian third division club.
The sensational deal with the 2002 world champion will be officially announced on June 23rd on the sidelines of the World Cup in Miami, reports the “Gazzetta dello Sport”.
“New colors, the same smile. I can’t wait to dance with the ball again and write a new chapter together with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family,” Ronaldinho was quoted as saying.
Football has always been “a source of joy” for him, and it’s exactly this spirit that I want to bring to Ravenna.
Only one mission planned for Ravenna?
Ravenna boss Ignazio Cipriani, who has been friends with Ronaldinho for years, spoke of “something extraordinary for our club. He was my idol and his influence on football goes far beyond his achievements on the pitch.”
Ronaldinho, who is currently an ambassador at the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, played his last competitive game for Fluminense in September 2015.
Ronaldinho is due to return to the pitch in July at the start of preparations for FC Ravenna, who narrowly failed to gain promotion in the previous season. How often the ball magician will actually play is unclear. In some places there is even talk of just one deployment.
During his playing days, the Selecao legend was under contract with Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona and AC Milan, among others. In 2005 he won the Ballon d’Or and in 2006 he triumphed with Barca in the Champions League.
In 2020, Ronaldinho and his brother were in prison in Paraguay for almost six months because the duo entered the country with fake passports.