Ronaldinho returns to Brazil to join Fluminense

Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho will be joining Fluminense which marks his return to Brazil

Two-time World Player of the year, Ronaldinho Gaucho has signed a 17-month contract with Rio De Janiero club Fluminense, Sky Sports reports. After spending almost a year at Mexican club Queretaro the former Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan star terminated his contract and has now signed for the Brazilian side, the club said on their website.

Official details of the deal were not released, but according to local media, the player will earn a monthly salary of about 600,000 reals ($190,000), plus bonuses from the sales or jerseys and other club products. He will be officially introduced to fans before the July 19 match against Vasco da Gama at the Maracana Stadium, but he will only begin training from July 27, meaning he will miss their next their three league matches.(Fox Sports).

Fluminense are currently third in Brazil’s Serie A.

Ronaldinho relishes playing at Maracana

"I am very motivated. When I was with another club in Rio de Janeiro we only played at the Engenhao so the possibility of playing at the Maracana is really exciting to me.” Ronaldinho said as quoted by Sky Sports.

Fluminense will be the midfielder’s fourth club in Brazil having played for Gremio, Flamengo and Atletico Mineiro earlier in his career. During his stint at Atletico Mineiro, he won the Libertadores Cup in 2013, the club’s first ever. He won the Brazilian Golden Ball award for his performance in the league matches for Mineiro in 2012.

Thirst for more trophies keeps Ronaldinho going at 35

The charismatic Brazilian has some of the biggest accolades the world of football has to offer, which includes the elusive World Cup (Brazil-2002), the Champions League (Barcelona-2006) among many others during his heydays in Europe. However, the Brazil’s Serie A medal still eludes the skilful dribbler in his illustrious trophy cabinet.

"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," Ronaldinho said according to a Eurosport report.

He joins Brazilian forward Fred, who had a forgettable World Cup campaign in Brazil last year, but continues to be Fluminense’s foremost striker.

Shuns interest from other clubs

Earlier in the transfer window, the veteran was heavily linked to a move to Fluminense’s bitter rivals Vasco da Gama and also to Turkish side, Antalyaspor as reported by the Dailymail, but chose to return to his homeland instead.

"Fluminense was part of the 10 percent that kept other clubs from signing him," Fluminense said in a statement on its website.

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