Ronaldinho has arrived in Italy to begin a series of promotional commitments with Ravenna, after the 46-year-old Brazilian former Ballon d’Or winner joined the Serie C club earlier this summer.
The former Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan forward is expected to be present at Ravenna’s team presentation ceremony on Friday, 21 August. His arrival has attracted significant attention because club owner Ignazio Cipriani has said Ronaldinho is expected to make at least one Serie C appearance.
Cipriani insists the move was not arranged solely as a promotional or commercial exercise. Instead, he says Ravenna hope Ronaldinho will wear the club’s shirt in a competitive league match before bringing his playing career to an end.
Ronaldinho has already taken part in the club’s pre-season training camp, according to the report, and is due to attend Friday’s presentation event. The details surrounding his possible competitive debut remain undecided, with the timing dependent on a number of factors.
However, Cipriani has confirmed that any appearance would take place at home. He also said Ronaldinho’s ambition is to score the final goal of his career as a Ravenna player.
“He will be present at the team’s presentation ceremony on August 21st,” Cipriani confirmed in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport in June.
“He won’t participate in the training camp, but he will definitely play at least one league match, and maybe even a few more, we’ll see. It’s still uncertain when he will make his league debut; it depends on various factors, but it will certainly be a home game.
“His goal is to score the last goal of his career wearing the Ravenna jersey.”
Ronaldinho, one of the most recognisable footballers of his generation, previously played for Paris Saint-Germain before establishing himself as a global star at Barcelona. He later represented AC Milan and was awarded the Ballon d’Or during his career.
His proposed involvement with Ravenna means the 46-year-old will be associated with a club competing in Italy’s third tier, with the precise date of any league appearance still to be confirmed. The club has not indicated which fixture could provide the opportunity, beyond Cipriani’s statement that it would be a home match.
Ravenna’s immediate public engagement with Ronaldinho will come at Friday’s presentation ceremony, where he is expected to appear alongside the team. The event will provide the first formal setting for the club to present its new association with the Brazilian legend.
Cipriani’s comments indicate that Ravenna want the arrangement to extend beyond publicity, with the owner maintaining that Ronaldinho will play in Serie C rather than simply attend club events. Whether he makes one appearance or several will depend on circumstances during the season.
