Ronaldinho is set to make a return to club football but not in the capacity that many would expect as he joins a third-tier club in Italy.
While fans would love to see the Brazilian showcase his talents on the pitch like he used to in the 2000s, those days are behind the 46-year-old.
Instead, he has joined Serie C club Ravenna in a role off the pitch as he signed a deal to work with the Italian side on marketing to try and help grow the club as well as become a stakeholder.
The Barcelona legend is set to be unveiled at an event in Miami on June 23.
Ronaldinho spoke after the deal was announced, as he said: “New colours, same smile. I can’t wait to get back to dancing on the ball and write a new story together 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.”
Ronaldinho will present the Ballon d’Or to the winner on Monday. Image credit: Getty
The 2002 World Cup winner is not a stranger to Italian football, having had a spell at AC Milan, helping them lift the Serie A title in 2011.
While the Italian top flight may seem a long way off at the minute with Ravenna in Serie C, this ambitious strategy may see them move towards this division, and their owner Ignazio Cipriani is delighted with the move.
He said: “I spent 24 years of my life in the United States, but I still consider Ravenna my home.
“Acquiring Ronaldinho is absolutely extraordinary for the club. He was my idol, and his impact on football goes beyond what he did on the pitch.
“Ronaldinho will do a marketing event with us, but he won’t play for Ravenna in Serie C next season.
“I wish he were still able to play. Dinho was a phenomenon and was a wonderful player.
“I have a beautiful relationship with him from the Milan days, but he won’t play in Serie C with us.”
While Ronaldinho is set to join the squad for preseason training, there is no thought that he will make a spectacular return to professional football.
The Ballon d’Or winner retired from the sport several years ago, with his last professional game coming in 2015 with Brazilian club Fluminense.
Ronaldinho was seen in attendance at the Brazil and Haiti game as he watched his nation emerge as a 3-0 winner to put them in a strong position to top Group C in the World Cup.
