RAVENNA, Italy (AP) — More than a decade after retiring, Brazil great Ronaldinho is set to don soccer boots again in an Italian third division match next month.
Ronaldinho signed with Ravenna in a surprise move in June but the 46-year-old has yet to feature for the Serie C team.
On Friday, Ravenna announced Ronaldinho — who last played professionally in 2015 for Fluminense — will make his debut in the derby against Forlì on Nov. 15.
“(It is) an event set to turn the world’s gaze toward the Stadio Bruno Benelli,” Ravenna said in a statement.
“The whole soccer world thought it too good to be true, instead we can now officially confirm a grand return: The return of the magic, the smile, and a talent that has captivated generations of fans, regardless of their team loyalties or soccer allegiances.”
Ravenna is run by Ignazio Cipriani of the Cipriani restaurant brand, who has said it is his dream for the Brazilian to score his last career goal for the team.
Ronaldinho was presented to the fans in a glitzy beachside ceremony in August, shortly before the season.
“From the announcement in Miami … to the warm welcome from fans on the beach in Marina di Ravenna, the anticipation has grown, fueled by a mix of excitement, curiosity, and disbelief,” Ravenna said.
“The vision of President Cipriani, which ignited the fans’ imaginations and sparked debate well beyond Italy’s borders, now has a concrete date. Ronaldinho will play at the Benelli, opening a new chapter in a story that never ceases to surprise.”
It is Ronaldinho’s second spell in Italy after featuring for AC Milan from 2008-11. He also played for Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in a glittering, trophy-laden career that included the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Ballon d’Or in 2005.
“There are footballers who are remembered for what they have won and others also for how they made people feel,” Ravenna said. “Ronaldinho belongs to that rare breed of champions capable of turning soccer into pure joy — through an unexpected move, a moment of creative brilliance, a smile that has bridged stadiums and generations alike.”
Ravenna is second in its group in Serie C, which is geographically split into three sets.
The club concluded its lengthy statement with a simple line: “The wait is almost over. The magic is coming back to the field.”
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