Former Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion Ronaldinho is reportedly set to break retirement at the age of 46 to sign for Italian third-tier club Ravenna, reports La Gazzetta Dello.
The report said the Brazilian legend is scheduled to sign the deal in Miami on Tuesday and is currently in the United States. A source close to the deal confirmed the development to AFP.
“I can’t wait to get back dancing with the ball again and to write a new story with Ignazio Cipriani and his entire family,” Gazzetta quoted Ronaldinho as saying.
“Football has always been a source of joy for me. I want to bring the same spirit to Ravenna,” the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star added.
However, Ravenna vice-president Ariedo Braida told Italian media that Ronaldinho’s signing may be more of a marketing move than a purely sporting decision, and it remains uncertain whether he will actually feature on the pitch.
“He’s a magical player, who will have his registration — that’s a huge coup for us,” Braida said.
“Will he play at 46? That depends, but he will be registered,” he added.
Ronaldinho has not played competitive football since a brief two-month spell at Fluminense in 2015.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
