Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho has described his return to the pitch as “truly beautiful” as he prepares to play for Italian third-tier club Ravenna, 11 years after retiring from professional football.
The 46-year-old is expected to feature in Ravenna’s local derby against Forli on Sunday, marking his return to competitive action after his last appearance for Brazilian side Fluminense in 2015.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Friday, Ronaldinho expressed excitement about the opportunity, describing it as a special moment in his life.
“I want to have a great day. I’m happy to be here for the start of this wonderful story,” he said.
“Returning to the pitch after so much time is truly beautiful. I’m here to experience a special moment in my life.”
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward explained that his decision to join Ravenna was influenced by the ambitions of the club’s leadership and his desire to be part of their project.
Ravenna president Ignazio Cipriani has set his sights on taking the club to Serie A for the first time in its history. The club currently competes in Serie C and is second in its group, six points behind leaders Spezia.
Ronaldinho’s return has generated considerable excitement among supporters, with tickets for the match at Stadio Bruno Benelli sold out. The stadium, which normally accommodates about 5,000 spectators, has also been expanded with a temporary stand holding an additional 1,800 fans, named the ‘R10’ stand in honour of the Brazilian.
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner retired after a celebrated career that included spells at Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. He won numerous domestic and international honours, including the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 2002.
Despite being away from professional football for more than a decade, Ronaldinho is hoping to reach another personal milestone by scoring his 300th career goal. His tally has remained at 299 since his final playing years.
Ravenna’s decision to bring the Brazilian back has been widely viewed as a major publicity move, but the club’s president believes his involvement could help attract attention to their ambition of reaching Italy’s top division.
For Ronaldinho, however, the return represents an opportunity to enjoy football again and contribute to a project he describes as a special new chapter.
Post a Comment