Ronaldinho, 46, returns to football with Italian third-division club Ravenna
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho, 46, is returning to professional football to play for Italian third-division club Ravenna.
- He has signed a contract and will join the team for pre-season training, with an official announcement planned for June 23 in Miami.
- The move is described as a personal dream for club president Ignazio Cipriani, who aims to bring Ronaldinho's joy for the game to Ravenna.
In a move that has stunned the football world, Brazilian icon Ronaldinho Gaรบcho is set to return to professional football at the age of 46. He has signed a contract with Ravenna, an ambitious club competing in Italy's Serie C.
The Ballon d'Or winner and former star for Barcelona and AC Milan will reportedly join the team for pre-season training. The sensational transfer, first reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, is expected to be officially confirmed on June 23 in Miami during a glamorous event. This event will also serve as the unveiling of the club's new kits for the upcoming season.
Ronaldinho expressed his excitement, stating, "New colors, same smile. I can't wait to dance with the ball again and write a new, beautiful story together with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family. Football has always been joy for me, and I'm happy to bring that spirit to Ravenna. Let the magic begin."
New colors, same smile. I can't wait to dance with the ball again and write a new, beautiful story together with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family. Football has always been joy for me, and I'm happy to bring that spirit to Ravenna. Let the magic begin.
The operation behind this extraordinary signing is spearheaded by Ravenna's president, Ignazio Cipriani. An entrepreneur who spent 24 years in the United States, Cipriani considers Ravenna his home and has invested significantly in the club. He described Ronaldinho's signing as fulfilling a personal dream, calling the Brazilian his idol and stating his influence on football transcends his on-field achievements.
The event in Miami will also have a humanitarian focus, with donations planned for Street Soccer USA, an organization that uses football for the social development of youth in underprivileged communities. The idea of bringing Ronaldinho to Ravenna reportedly began to take shape last December.
The engagement of Ronaldinho is something absolutely extraordinary for the club; he was my idol, and his influence on football transcends all that he has achieved on the field.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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