Ronaldinho Unveiled by Serie C Club Ravenna at 46

Ronaldinho has been unveiled by Italian third-tier club Ravenna at the age of 46, more than a decade after his last official match. The Guardian reported that the former Barcelona and AC Milan player arrived in Italy on Thursday, completed a medical and appeared at a club presentation later in the day. Ravenna had initially announced his signing on June 19.

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The Brazilian will become a shareholder in Ravenna FC, club president Ignazio Cipriani confirmed. A return to the pitch is also possible, although Ronaldinho said the decision on whether he plays will rest with Cipriani and head coach Andrea Mandorlini. He was presented with Ravenna's No. 10 shirt at the public event.

Ronaldinho's most recent official appearance came for Fluminense in 2015. His career included spells with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan, and he won the Ballon d'Or during his time at Barcelona. His arrival at a Serie C club therefore represents an unusual prospective comeback, but Ravenna have not set a date for him to play or guaranteed that he will feature in a competitive match.

According to The Guardian, Cipriani described friendship and passion as central to bringing Ronaldinho to the club. The president also said the move was intended to generate enthusiasm around Ravenna rather than serve only as a marketing exercise or a bid for international attention. Ronaldinho, meanwhile, said his aims were to help the team, inspire the other players and contribute to a successful season.

The announcement has already drawn a notable local response. The Guardian reported that Ravenna have sold more than 2,700 season tickets for their Serie C campaign following news of Ronaldinho's involvement. Supporters gathered at a beachside event in Marina di Ravenna, where the full squad was presented and Ronaldinho appeared before the club's fans for the first time.

Ravenna begin their league campaign away in Reggio Emilia on Monday, but Cipriani confirmed that Ronaldinho will not take part in that match. The club's broader ambitions extend beyond the opening fixture: Cipriani is targeting a rapid rise to Serie B and ultimately the Italian top flight. For now, Ronaldinho's ownership role is confirmed, while the timing and extent of any playing contribution remain undecided.