Ronaldinho Arrives at Ravenna for Remarkable Serie C Comeback

Ronaldinho has arrived in Italy to begin an extraordinary return to professional football with Ravenna, more than a decade after his last official match. The Guardian reported that the 46-year-old landed at Forlì airport on Thursday before undergoing a medical and attending his formal presentation with the Serie C club.

Watch the highlights:

Ravenna announced the former Brazil international's signing on June 19 while the World Cup was under way. His most recent official appearance came for Fluminense in 2015, making the proposed comeback one of the most unusual moves of the European season. The club has now presented him in person, removing any lingering doubt that the agreement was genuine.

The arrangement extends beyond the pitch. Ravenna president Ignazio Cipriani said Ronaldinho will become a shareholder in the club while also being available to contribute as a player. According to The Guardian's account of the presentation, the former Barcelona and AC Milan playmaker said friendship and passion persuaded him to join the project and that he wants to help and inspire his new teammates.

There is no confirmed date for Ronaldinho's competitive debut. Cipriani said he will not feature in Ravenna's opening league match away to Reggio Emilia on Monday, and Ronaldinho indicated that decisions over whether he plays will rest with the president and head coach Andrea Mandorlini. Mandorlini presented him with Ravenna's number 10 shirt during the welcome event.

The signing has already produced a measurable commercial response. The Guardian reported that Ravenna have sold more than 2,700 season tickets for their Serie C campaign. Supporters also gathered at Marina di Ravenna for a beachside presentation of the squad, where Ronaldinho was the central attraction.

Ronaldinho won the Ballon d'Or during a decorated career that included spells at Barcelona and Milan. Ravenna's ambitions are far more modest but clearly defined: Cipriani is targeting a climb to Serie B, with the longer-term aim of reaching Italy's top flight. For now, the club has secured international attention and a famous new stakeholder, while the timing and extent of his playing contribution remain uncertain.