RONALDINHO RETURNS TO FOOTBALL, JOINS NEW CLUB
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By:Tajudeen Aminat
Former Brazil international Ronaldinho has completed a surprise return to football after signing for Italian third-tier club Ravenna.
The 46-year-old, who retired from professional football in 2015, announced his return on Thursday, 11 years after his final competitive appearance.
Ronaldinho said he joined Ravenna with the ambition of scoring his “300th goal” while helping the club achieve its objectives.
“I’m very pleased to be here with friends; we have a team capable of achieving something significant,” he said during his unveiling in Ravenna.
The 2002 World Cup winner and 2005 Ballon d’Or recipient added that his decision to return was driven by his desire to support his new teammates and contribute to the club’s success.
Ronaldinho played his final official match for Brazilian club Fluminense in September 2015, bringing an illustrious career to an end.
Ravenna owner Ignazio Cipriani first disclosed the former Barcelona star’s return in June, describing his involvement as more than a publicity stunt.
Cipriani said Ronaldinho’s main objective was to score one final goal and added that the former forward would become a shareholder in the club.
However, Ronaldinho will not feature in Ravenna’s Serie C season opener against Reggiana on Monday.
The Brazilian scored 33 goals in 97 appearances for his country and won numerous major honours during his career.
Ravenna finished third in Group B of the Italian third division last season and are targeting promotion to Serie B, where they have not played since 2008.
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