Brazil football legend Ronaldinho don announce say im dey make comeback at age 46 for Italian third division side Ravenna. Fans wey plenty for number gather for city beach for wetin dem call Ronaldinho Day, even for rain, just to see the former Paris St-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker wey don retire since 2015.
“I dey very happy to dey here with friends, we get team wey fit do something good,” Ronaldinho talk. “Will you see me play? I no know, only the coach know that. Coming back to Italy na wonderful tin, I dey here to help my teammates win.” The Brazilian star also talk say “As you dey see me, I dey in shape, I feel good. If I fit score my 300th goal, that one go even better.”
Ronaldinho end im career for September 2015 when e play im last official match with Brazilian club Fluminense. E win World Cup for 2002, wey e score winning goal for quarter-final against England, and e also win Ballon d'Or for 2005. The guy na legend wey don achieve plenty for football.
Na June dem first announce di comeback by Ignazio Cipriani, Italian-American businessman and owner of Ravenna since 2024, while e dey attend World Cup for Miami. Cipriani talk say “His objective na romantic, to try to score his last goal.” E also talk say “His involvement no be token gesture or marketing stunt to make people dey talk about us.”
Ravenna no go include Ronaldinho for match against Reggiana for Monday for Serie C season opener. Di club finish third for Group B last season and dey look to return to Serie B, wey dem no play since 2008. Ronaldinho go also become shareholder for the club.
According to reports from DW, even as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo still dey play at 39 and 41, many fans think Ronaldinho belong to another era. But now e don come back with Ravenna. The club don sell 2,700 season tickets, largely because of the Brazilian arrival. And e no be oldest player around: Japan‘s Kazuyoshi Miura, 59, still dey play, and e even score two penalties for Emperor’s Cup this week.
Ronaldinho land for Forlì airport for Emilia-Romagna, wey e do im iconic “shaka” gesture. E meet with Croatian Luka Modric for Milan before im presentation. The deal get clear international focus, with partners like Black Duck and commercial agreements with Nike. E dey expected to play at least one official match, but club no don reveal when im debut go happen. At im official presentation for Miami almost two months ago, Ronaldinho talk say “Football has always been joy for me, and I am excited to bring that spirit to Ravenna. Let the magic begin!”
