Ronaldinho is back in Italian soccer. And no, this isn’t some nostalgia tour or a promotional gimmick where he shows up for a photo op and disappears. The 46-year-old Brazilian legend has officially signed with Ravenna, a Serie C club, as a player. That’s the third division of Italian football. He’ll put on the No. 10 jersey and actually suit up.
The club made it official this week. Ronaldinho, who turns 47 in March, hasn’t played competitive soccer since 2015 when his contract with Fluminense ended. Most people assumed that was the end. Apparently Ronaldinho wasn’t one of those people.
“New colors, same smile,” he said on Ravenna’s website. “I can’t wait to dance with the ball again and write a new, wonderful story along with Ignazio Cipriani and the Cipriani family. Football has always been joy for me and I am enthusiastic about bringing this spirit to Ravenna. Let the magic begin!”
Let’s be real for a second. Ronaldinho at 46 in Serie C is wild. The man won a World Cup. He won the Ballon d’Or. He played for Barcelona, PSG, Milan, and Flamengo. His last spell in Italy was with AC Milan from 2008 to 2011, and even then the magic was starting to flicker. Now he’s heading to a club in Ravenna, a city better known for its Byzantine mosaics than its football team.
How did this even happen?
The move is the brainchild of Ignazio Cipriani, Ravenna’s owner. Cipriani grew up in Ravenna, spent over two decades building a fortune in the United States, and then came back to buy his hometown club. He also brought in former Milan exec Ariedo Braida as a director. So there’s a Milan connection threading through this whole thing.
There were rumors floating around the last few days that Ronaldinho might be joining Ravenna in some capacity, but nobody was sure if it was just a brand ambassador deal or something more. Turns out it’s something more. The club is treating this with full seriousness. They already have his jersey on sale with his name and the No. 10. Nike signed a four-year kit deal off the back of it.
Ravenna is throwing a VIP dinner in Miami on June 23 to introduce him, with 70 guests and an after-party for 250. They’ll also unveil the new kit there. So yes, this is being treated like a real signing, not a publicity stunt. Even if it’s definitely also a publicity stunt.
As for whether Ronaldinho can actually still play? That’s the part nobody knows. He’s been mostly retired for over a decade. His body isn’t what it was. But Serie C isn’t exactly Champions League level. The physical demands are lower. The fields are smaller. The fans are louder. Maybe he’s got one more dance in him. Maybe he’ll play 10 minutes a game and wave. Either way, Italian soccer just got way more interesting.
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