5th January, 2011
Contrary to the widely rumoured link to Blackburn Rovers of England, two times world player of the year, Ronaldinho has signed for Brazilian club, Grêmio.
Report quoting Gazzetta dello Sport early today says Ronaldinho’s brother-agent, Robert de AssÃs has formalised an agreement with the Brazilian club, indicating the former FC Barcelona star is heading to Porto Alegre and his first club, Grêmio.
Gazzetta, while announcing the news, claims that Ronaldinho will join a Brazilian club rather than move to the Premier League.
The Brazilian star’s exit is expected to be confirmed imminently, with several clubs in Brazil and England openly courting the signature of the twice World Player of the Year.
Grêmio finished fourth in last year’s Campeonato Brasileirao Serie A, winning five of their last six league matches to qualify for this year’s Copa Libertadores. Ronalindho debuted in the tournament in 1998 as an 18 year old, eventually leaving the club for Paris St. Germain in 2001.
After stops in Barcelona and Milan, the two-time World Player of the Year is set to return to Brazil, though official announcements from Grêmio and Milan are pending. This season for Milan, Ronaldinho had made 13 all-competition appearances, scoring once.
Blackburn manager Steve Kean, whose club are in a strong position to land Ronaldingo after making a €7.2million bid for the 30-year-old player, said yesterday: “I don’t know how likely it is to happen but over the last 24 hours it’s become less likely than likely. I’m hearing he may want to go back to Brazil, but I don’t know if anybody can afford him there.â€
Meanwhile, Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has saluted Ronaldinho, whose spell at the club has reached its end.
“Ronaldinho? I am sorry he has left, he is the greatest player in the world when it comes to the speed of thinking and execution, but it was his choice to return to Brazil.â€
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