Ronaldinho has landed in Italy to complete his return to professional football at the age of 46. The Brazilian legend arrived at Forlì airport on Thursday aboard a private jet, where dozens of journalists and cameras welcomed him.
He is now expected to sign with Ravenna FC 1913, who play in the Italian third division, with the club planning to officially announce his arrival later in the day.
The move has already generated huge excitement in Ravenna, with between 5,000 and 6,000 people expected to attend the presentation on a beach. Ronaldinho, who retired from professional football in 2015, reportedly wants to score one final competitive goal before closing this new chapter. His return, however, goes beyond sporting ambitions and mainly serves a commercial project linked to his R10 brand.
Ravenna owner Ignazio Cipriani explained that Ronaldinho wants to develop R10 as a football brand inspired by Michael Jordan’s business model. Ravenna will reportedly become the first team to wear the brand’s equipment, making the Brazilian’s arrival part of a broader commercial strategy. For the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner, this return therefore combines one last football challenge with the launch of a new chapter away from the pitch.
