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Ronaldinho, 46, to play exhibition match with Italian club Ravenna
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Sports

Ronaldinho, 46, to play exhibition match with Italian club Ravenna

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho will participate in an exhibition match at age 46 with Italian club Ravenna.
  • The event is part of a promotional operation and will be officially presented in Miami on June 23.
  • While the club's vice-president clarified Ronaldinho will not play regularly, the initiative is driven by owner Ignazio Cipriani, with whom Ronaldinho has a friendship.

Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho Gaúcho is set to return to the pitch at 46 years old for an exhibition match with Ravenna, a club in Italy's Serie C. The event is tied to a promotional campaign and will be formally unveiled next week.

Ronaldinho, formerly of Barcelona, Milan, and the Brazilian national team, will be presented on June 23 in Miami. Italian media have quoted the legendary player expressing his excitement: "The same new colors, the same smile. I am looking forward to dancing with the ball again to write a new story with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family. Football has always been a source of joy for me and I want to bring that same spirit to Ravenna."

The same new colors, the same smile. I am looking forward to dancing with the ball again to write a new story with Ignazio and the entire Cipriani family. Football has always been a source of joy for me and I want to bring that same spirit to Ravenna.

— RonaldinhoQuoted by Italian media regarding his participation in an exhibition match with Ravenna.

The initiative is spearheaded by Ravenna's owner, Ignazio Cipriani, an American-based businessman with whom Ronaldinho shares a close friendship. There is speculation that Ronaldinho might even acquire a stake in the club. However, vice-president Ariedo Braida clarified that Ronaldinho's involvement is primarily for promotional and image purposes, stating, "Dinho will participate in a marketing event with us, but he will not play for Ravenna next season. He is 46 years old. I wish he could still do it."

This official presentation precedes the Italian team's summer training for their upcoming season, where they aim to compete for promotion to Serie B. Ronaldinho, a 2002 World Cup winner and 2005 Ballon d'Or recipient, played his last official match in September 2015. He is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in recent football history, leaving a significant legacy at clubs like Barcelona and Milan.

Dinho will participate in a marketing event with us, but he will not play for Ravenna next season. He is 46 years old. I wish he could still do it.

— Ariedo BraidaRavenna's vice-president clarified Ronaldinho's role in the club.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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