Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has signed a contract with European powerhouse Ravenna FC, to be announced next week.
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho (left) has signed with Serie C side Ravenna. (Image: (Photo by Shaun Botterill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images))
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has returned to club soccer after agreeing to a contract with Ravenna FC of Italy’s Serie C. The former Barcelona and AC Milan star has not played professional football since 2015 after leaving Fluminese.
He will retire in a few years, so a move to a Serie C club will not lead to a return to the pitch. The 2002 World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner will take part in the Italian club’s marketing event and will be unveiled in Miami next week.
The 46-year-old attended Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti at the World Cup and appeared on the TV screen alongside Ronaldo. A big cheer went up from the ground for the two superstars.
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Ronaldinho’s worldwide popularity was a big change for the Italian side, and of his move to Ravenna, Ronaldinho said: “New colors, the same smile. I can’t wait to get back to dancing at balls and write new stories with Ignazio and the whole Cipriani family.”
“Football has always been a source of joy for me and I want to bring the same spirit to Ravenna.”
Owner Ignazio Cipriani admitted that Ronaldinho was his childhood idol, saying: “I spent 24 years of my life in the United States, but I still consider Ravenna my home.”
“The signing of Ronaldinho is completely unusual for the club. He is my idol and his influence on football goes beyond his play on the pitch.”
Ronaldinho is set to join Italian Serie C side Ravenna next season (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
However, Ravenna’s honorary vice president Ariedo Breida has explained that Ronaldinho will not feature in any Serie C games at the start of the 2026/27 season.
“Ronaldinho will be doing marketing events with us, but he won’t be playing for Ravenna in Serie C next season. I wish he could still play,” Breida said.
“Ginho was a phenomenon and a great player. I have a great relationship with him since his time at Milan, but he will not play with us in Serie C.”
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Ronaldinho watched as Brazil ran riot in the World Cup Group C match against Haiti. All the goals came in the first half, with Matheus Cunha scoring the second and Vinicius Junior the third.
Brazil looked much sharper than their lackluster early stalemate with Morocco. As a result of this result, Haiti, who lost 1-0 to Scotland in the first match, was unable to advance to the final tournament.
Brazil got through Haiti in the early stages, helped by the Caribbean nation’s generous defense. The high defensive line gave Cunha, Rafinha and Vinicius many opportunities to exploit the spaces behind the pitch.
