By Georgia Grimond, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Saturday July 11th, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, better known as Ronaldinho, age 35, announced that he would return to Brazil to play for Fluminense on a seventeen-month deal. Fluminense, who are currently second in this year’s Brasileirão Série A league, will be the fourth Brazilian football (soccer) club Ronaldinho has played for, having started his early career at Grêmio, before stints at both Flamengo and Atlético Mineiro.
After terminating his contract with Mexican club Querétaro, where he had been for under a year, the attacking midfielder will play once again in his home country with the hope of winning a Série A championship in the 2015 Brasileirão national football tournament.
“That was one of the things that most motivated me to return home to Brazil, in search of a title that I don’t have, as well as this being a club with great players,” he said in a statement.
Ronaldinho is one of Brazil’s most decorated players who has twice been named World Player of the Year, as well winning the World Cup in 2002 and 97 caps. While abroad he has played for top clubs Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
The player was expected to go to Turkish side Antalyaspor but instead signed to Fluminense where he is said to be excited at the prospect of playing at the Maracanã, Rio’s most famous stadium. His last time playing with a Rio club was with Flamengo in 2011-2012, which ended acrimoniously when the player sued the club for failing to pay his wages on time after he missed a number of training practices.
Ronaldinho will begin training with his new team on July 27th leading him to miss their next three league matches.