Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho has returned to professional play at age 46, signing with Italian Serie C club Ravenna FC. Arriving in Italy on Thursday to a crowd of 6,000 fans, the Ballon d’Or winner also took a stake in the club, though his debut remains uncertain.
Ronaldinho Arrives in Ravenna for Squad Presentation
Brazil great Ronaldinho arrived in Italy on Thursday after joining Serie C side Ravenna FC. Landing at Forli airport around midday, the 46-year-old was greeted by roughly 6,000 fans who gathered at a beach festival on the Adriatic coast for an induction ceremony that the club designated Ronaldinho Day
.
Supporters welcomed the former playmaker with flags and cheering tools as he was officially introduced wearing the number 10 shirt. The signing brings the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner back into active professional football more than a decade after his last competitive appearance for Fluminense in 2015.
Ownership Stake and Romantic Aims on the Pitch
Beyond lacing up his boots once again, Ronaldinho will become a shareholder in the third-tier Italian club. The minnows are owned by his friend Ignazio Cipriani, the grandson of Giuseppe Cipriani, who owns Harry’s Bar in Venice. Cipriani hopes to lead Ravenna to the Italian top flight for the first time.
To dispel suggestions that the high-profile arrival was merely a publicity stunt, the club chairman outlined the motivations behind the move.
“This is not window dressing or a marketing stunt. Ronaldinho will become a shareholder in Ravenna FC — that is the central point of the operation. He has also chosen to make an extraordinary gift to the city and to his new club: he will take to the pitch for Ravenna in an official professional match, with one clear and romantic aim — to try to score the final goal of his career.”
Ignazio Cipriani, Ravenna Chairman, via Givemesport
Cipriani added to reporters on Thursday that the operation was designed to bring the whole city closer to the team
and to create a fan base with lots of joy and excitement for this new season
.
Playing Debut and the Hunt for Goal Number 300
Whether the former Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and AC Milan star will immediately take the field remains an open question. Cipriani confirmed that Ronaldinho will not play in Ravenna’s season opener away against Reggiana on Monday. When asked about his exact physical condition and when he might play, the veteran midfielder kept his cards close to his chest.
As for his readiness to dance on the ball again in an official fixture, Ronaldinho expressed cautious optimism about reaching a milestone 300th career goal.
“If that happens, it will be even more beautiful,” Ronaldinho replied with a wide smile. “I don’t know, that depends on the president, on the trainer. I came here because of the friendship we have. We’ll wait for the squad to do well. I’m here to help.”
Ronaldinho
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