Ravenna, August 13, 2026 – A midsummer dream turning into reality, ready to project local football and the entire territory onto the front pages of international media. Ravenna FC is about to experience a historic turning point with the official announcement of Ronaldinho‘s entry into the club, one of the most beloved icons in the history of world football.
The Ronaldinho operation also includes his sensational return to the playing field
The superstar, former Barcelona and Milan player, will not be limited to a representative role: the operation indeed includes his direct entry into the club’s structure and a sensational return to the playing field to play an official match wearing the yellow and red jersey.
The news has already crossed national borders, attracting the attention of foreign press precisely during the days dedicated to major international competitions. An overwhelming enthusiasm confirmed by the words of President Cipriani, visibly moved by the milestone achieved.
President Cipriani: “Dinho was the player who made us fall in love with football”
“The media impact of this operation has been incredible, no use beating around the bush. When you see the name Ravenna alongside Ronaldinho on international headlines while the whole world talks about the FIFA World Cup, it definitely makes an impression. But beyond the newspaper headlines, for me this is first and foremost a personal matter. Dinho was the player who made my entire generation fall in love with the game of football,” declares the top executive, emphasizing the visceral bond with the colors of his city.
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“Bringing him here, making people look at this reality again with this enthusiasm, is the closing of a circle after twenty-four years spent in the United States. Ravenna is home for me. I am sure it will make the kids of Ravenna fall in love too and lead them to cheer for their city’s team. All this visibility does enormous good for the city and gives a huge boost to our sponsors; seeing our territory and those who invest in the club on such a global stage must make us all very proud.”
The first meeting between the people and the champion
The first embrace between the champion and the Ravenna community is scheduled for Thursday evening, an unmissable event open to all citizens to celebrate a moment destined to remain in the annals of local sports history. “Now comes the best moment: Ronaldinho will meet Ravenna and its people. On Thursday, I want to see lots of people alongside the team, because it will not be just a club evening. It will be a historic moment for the whole city and I believe it should be experienced together,” continues Cipriani.
“Ronaldinho will become a Ravenna partner and play a match to score the last goal”
Beyond the great clamor, the initiative rests on solid foundations and a mutual respect relationship that has lasted for a long time. The sporting goal of the Brazilian phenomenon on the green field has almost poetic contours. “This is not a mere facade move or a marketing play to get people talking about us. Ronaldinho will become a partner of Ravenna. This is the central point of the operation. There is a friendship, we have known each other for a long time and this made everything more spontaneous. Moreover, he decided to give an immense gift to this city and its new team: he will take the field for an official professional match with Ravenna. He will play with a clear and romantic goal: to try to score his last career goal. He does it with his heart, to fill the stadium and especially to bring fans closer and make kids fall in love with this jersey. He wants to bring his contagious joy directly to our field.”
“We have a work group that lives for Ravenna. We want facilities up to standard and a lively stadium”
The arrival of the Brazilian champion fits into a long-term business and sports strategy, led by the ownership in synergy with international partners and top management figures. “We certainly do not stop at the novelty effect. This is the starting point for something much more structured. Alongside me is the Black Duck fund. With them, we are bringing a very modern approach based on data and artificial intelligence for scouting, which combined with the experience of a legend like Ariedo Braida and the work of our sporting director Davide Mandorlini gives us an extra gear. We have a very close-knit work group that lives for Ravenna. We want facilities up to standard and a lively stadium. If a person like Ronaldinho decides to become a partner of Ravenna, it means he believes in the project and its future. For us, it is a very strong certification: it shows that the project is solid, credible, and looks far ahead. Our path is clear and we know exactly where we want to go and we work every day to build this reality.”
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