Is the time right for Ronaldinho to retire?

Brazilian legend and football icon Ronaldinho has left his latest club Fluminense after only after only seven games. The 35 year old had only signed a one year deal in the summer but has reached a mutual agreement to release him from his contract only a matter of months later.  FIFA World Player of the […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-09-29 20:07:00

Brazilian legend and football icon Ronaldinho has left his latest club Fluminense after only after only seven games.

The 35 year old had only signed a one year deal in the summer but has reached a mutual agreement to release him from his contract only a matter of months later.
 
FIFA World Player of the Year in consecutive years in 2005 and 2006 the Brazilian has enjoyed a much decorated career, but with this latest development has the time approached to come to a gracious conclusion to avoid tarnishing his extraordinary and pronounced career?

Ronaldinho, or Ronaldinho Gaucho as the natives would say since he hails from Southern Brazil began his illustrious career in 1998 with Gremio, a matter of months after Brazil were thrashed 3-0 by France in the World Cup final, he set about putting the foundations in place for what was to come.

His breakout year came at the turn of the Millennium as Ronaldinho notched 14 goals in 21 appearances for the tricolour, and this is when his first flirtation with English football occurred. Arsene Wenger and Arsenal expressed a pertinent interest in signing the youngster but were thwarted by a lack of work permit as the 21 year old had not played enough International fixtures.

He eventually went on to join Paris St. Germain playing alongside the likes of Nicolas Anelka, Jay Jay Okocha and compatriot Aloisio. During this period is when the Brazilian started to gain more and more attention and after scoring some vital goals against Marseille that season, he was drafted into the Brazil squad for the 2002 World Cup where England fans and David Seaman in particular will remember this is where he fully announced himself.

He was part of a potent and dynamic attacking trio with AC Milan’s Rivaldo and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo that would ultimately write the wrongs of four years ago and lift the World Cup following a 2-0 win over Germany.  

The following summer is when the next chance to move to England came and went. Ronaldinho himself, revealed last year that he was ‘on the brink’ of joining Manchester United in 2002 but was stopped by late call from soon to be Barcelona president Sandro Rosell.  

The Brazilian said I was on the brink of joining Manchester United, there were just a few details to iron out, but Rosell called me at the last minute to tell me that they were going to win the election.”

“That made everything happen very fast”

This was evidently a huge blow for Sir Alex Ferguson the red side of Manchester would go on to surrender the title to Arsenal, in their much famed Invincibles season.  

However, Ronaldinho himself didn’t look back and would later confess, the five years at the Catalan club is where he enjoyed his football the most becoming a Champions League and two time La Liga winner.
 
Spells thereafter included Milan where he tried but subsequently failed to recapture his flamboyant form of years gone by. What followed was a number of years dotted around South America, most notably a three season spell Atletico Miniero.  

However, with this latest episode at Fluminense coming to a disappointing and premature end, perhaps the 35 year old should seriously consider life after football.