Brazil legend Ronaldinho is set to come out of retirement aged 46 to play for Ravenna in the Italian third tier, according to reports in Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
The sports daily disclosed that Ronaldinho was scheduled to sign a deal in Miami on Tuesday and that he was already in the United States for the World Cup.
According to AFP, a person close to the negotiations confirmed the news.
“I can’t wait to get back dancing with the ball again and to write a new story with Ignazio Cipriani (the Italian-American owner of Ravenna) and his entire family,” Gazzetta quoted Ronaldinho as saying.
“Football has always been a source of joy for me. I want to bring the same spirit to Ravenna,” added the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona star.
However, Ravenna vice president Ariedo Braida warned Italian media that Ronaldinho’s signing was more of a publicity tactic than a squad-building move and that he may never play.
“He’s a magical player who will have his registration; that’s a huge coup for us,” he said.
“Will he play at 46? That depends, but he’ll be registered.”
The Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner has not played since a two-month stint at Fluminense in 2015.
