Brazil great Ronaldinho has landed in Ravenna, a city more famous for its nearby beaches than its soccer team. 10 walked out.
The lyrics “and the world’s going to know your name” seemed ironically superfluous as one of soccer’s most recognizable figures stepped on stage in front of thousands of fans on Thursday. That song, “Hall of Fame” by The Script, had been belted out throughout the presentation of third-tier Ravenna’s team for the upcoming season before the team’s new No. Thursday was dubbed “Ronaldinho day” as the soccer legend was presented first to the press before a glitzy beachside ceremony in front of around 6,000 fans, waving flags and holding flares aloft – despite the intermittent rain.
Brazil great Ronaldinho has landed in Ravenna, a city more famous for its nearby beaches than its soccer team.
Ronaldinho will not feature in Ravenna’s first Serie C match of the season on Monday, at Reggio Emilia, and it is still unclear how much he hopes to play during the campaign. I don’t know. “If that happens even better, no? I’m here to help.
Because of the friendship we have, and that’s it, let’s wait and see how the team does .., “I’ve come here. In a surprise announcement in June, the 46-year-old Ronaldinho signed with Italian third-division club Ravenna more than a decade after retiring. Ronaldinho last played professionally for Fluminense in 2015. It marks his second spell in Italy after featuring for AC Milan from 2008-11. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
“I’m very happy to be here with my friends, but let’s wait and see if things go well with the team,” Ronaldinho said Thursday when asked about how he was feeling, before later answering a question as to when Ravenna fans could expect to see him on the field. “I feel fine,” he said with a laugh, before later adding: “I don’t know, it depends on the president and coach. However, Cipriani has said it is his dream for the Brazilian to score his last career goal for the team. Ronaldinho said.
