Brazilian Superstar Ronaldinho Signs with Ravenna, Ending a Long Absence from Italian Soil
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Ronaldinho, 46, arrives to restart career in Italy Brazil great Ronaldinho has landed in Ravenna, a city more famous for its nearby beaches than its soccer team.
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BBC SportPublished Brazil great Ronaldinho said he hopes he can score his 300th career goal after announcing a comeback at the age of 46 at Italian third-tier side Ravenna.
NDTV SportsWorld Already Knows His Name: Brazil Great Ronaldinho Arrives At Third-Tier Ravenna File photo of Ronaldinho.
The Guardian SportA dream that materialised, dispelling any doubts, at 11.50am on Thursday, when Ronaldinho, in a floral shirt and Bermuda shorts, with his now-familiar flat cap on his head, walked down the steps of the private jet that brought him from Milan Linate to the runway of Forlì airport. It is all true, all real. From there, he went on to the customary medical, like a true footballer. Ronaldinho is becoming a partner in the Ravenna club, as explained by the president, but he will also do his part on the pitch, with the dream of scoring the final goal of his career in the yellow-and-red jersey.
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It seemed like a joke, a hoax, when at 10pm on 19 June, Ravenna broke the news of Ronaldinho’s signing. The Brazilian, a former Ballon d’Or winner and one of the most recognisable figures in world football, had played his last official match in 2015 for Fluminense; a professional signing in Serie C at 46 years of age seemed unrealistic, to say the least. With football’s attention taken by the World Cup, the game was shocked by this bolt from the blue. For the most part, it remained in disbelief.
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BBC SportRonaldinho ended his career in September 2015 when he played his last official match with Brazilian club Fluminense.
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Closing the circle was Cipriani himself, who revealed the behind-the-scenes of the miracle, after clarifying: “Ronaldinho is in shape.” When asked how he convinced the Brazilian champion, the answer was identical to that of the player: “Friendship and passion.” Cipriani then confirmed Ronaldinho’s entry as a shareholder in Ravenna FC, insisting on the profound meaning of the corporate move: “It’s not just about marketing, it’s not just international visibility. It is the chance to create a new enthusiasm around the club and the yellow-and-red jersey.”
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BBC Sport"I'm very happy to be here with friends, we have a team that can do something good," said Ronaldinho, who will become a shareholder in the Serie C side.
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Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 The Guardian Sport There was much discussion, in the city and around the world, about the real value of this operation, and we talked about it too, speaking with the mayor, the fans, and the president of Ravenna, Ignazio Cipriani, scion of the family known globally for Harry’s Bar, who is giving his city much more than a dream.
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02 BBC Sport Thousands of fans gathered at a city beach for an event dubbed "Ronaldinho Day", enduring rain to witness the unveiling of the former Paris St-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker, who retired from playing in 2015.
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03 NDTV Sports Barcelona Enter New Era As Hansi Flick Targets La Liga Hat-Trick File photo of Hansi Flick.
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04 Yonhap Sports By Yoo Jee-ho SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in celebrated his return to Spain by scoring his first goal for Atletico Madrid in their season-opening victory.
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