Flamengo director – Ronaldinho did not turn up to training drunk

According to Globoesporte, the former World player of the Year arrived to Wednesday morning's session still under the influence of alcohol, while the player himself claimed he was feeling pain in his muscles.

Ronaldinho did end up taking part in limited exercises, but the news is likely to anger Flamengo fans, as the Rio de Janeiro-based club are preparing to take on Sport Recife today in the first round of the Brasileirão.

''[The news] was a surprise, it did not happen like that. [Ronaldinho] has never arrived at the club with an unacceptably high alcohol level since I joined. If he did, he would not step on the pitch,'' Zinho told SporTV.

''It is not true. The day before there was a lot of hard work done, and in the week it had rained meaning a heavy pitch. The technical staff wanted to rest him from that session. We are in the week of our first game and we do not need to push things.''