Ronaldinho was in the Ravenna starting line-up at the sold-out Stadio Bruno Benelli, 11 years after his last professional match for Fluminense. On a cold afternoon in Romagna he wore gloves, a headband and thermal layers under the home shirt, and lined up as a second striker behind Simone Rabbi.
The match against local rivals Forli finished goalless. Ravenna’s clearest sight of goal during his time on the pitch came when Giulio Donati struck from the edge of the box and was denied by Forli goalkeeper Martelli.
Andrea Mandorlini had given himself room to introduce the 46-year-old off the bench, but on the eve of the match confirmed to Flashscore that he would be in from kick-off.
“He will play from the start, there’s no doubt,” the Ravenna manager said, framing his pick in sporting as well as commercial terms.
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“He is one of the greatest players of the modern era. And we have to get a result. We always play with three forwards.”
One training session, then kick-off
The Ravenna players had never shared a pitch with him in training before Saturday. Ronaldinho flew into Italy on Friday, trained once with the squad on Saturday, and started on Sunday. The club built a temporary stand nicknamed the “R10 Stand” to cope with demand for the fixture, and travelling supporters mixed with Brazilian flags around the away end.
The signing was announced in June as a player-investor deal, with Ronaldinho unveiled at a ceremony in Miami on 23 June. For weeks, vice-president Ariedo Braida had suggested the arrangement was essentially a marketing one; his line that “it’s not ruled out” eventually became Mandorlini’s team sheet.
Ronaldinho himself kept to a short statement at the time of signing, which the club has leaned on ever since.
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“New colours, same smile. I can’t wait to be able to dance on the ball again.”
Dida in the TV booth
Working as a co-commentator on Sky Sport Italia, former AC Milan goalkeeper Dida watched his former team-mate return to competitive football in his adopted country.
“It’s incredible, after not playing for 11 years, to see all these people flocking here,” Dida said on air.
Ronaldinho spent two-and-a-half seasons at Milan between 2008 and 2011. His last professional club was Fluminense in Brazil, where he left the game in September 2015 after scoring, by the club’s count, 299 career goals. Mandorlini has made no secret of wanting him to reach 300.
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Second in Group B
Ravenna went into the derby second in Serie C Group B on 29 points; Forli arrived 15th on 15. The draw keeps Ravenna in the promotion race, with Group B leaders out of reach for now and the next matchday still to be played.
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