Chelsea winger Willian has described Ronaldinho as his idol. In an interview with the Chelsea website focusing specifically on skills and tricks, the Brazilian revealed that Ronaldinho was one of his biggest influences as a young player, as well as Robinho.
Ronaldinho has not played in almost a year following his departure from Fluminense, but his influence lives on, “He was the best, he’s my idol. I played with him in a charity game, he’s a very nice guy.”
Willian recalls one piece of skill from the ex Barcelona man in particular, “When he was playing for Barcelona. He got the ball and flicked it over the head of his opponent one, two, three times, it was unbelievable.”
The Chelsea and Brazil star also identified Robinho as an influence when it comes to skills and tricks, “I tried to learn so many. I always tried to copy the professionals. Robinho used to do a skill called the elastico, where he spins away from the defender, and I used to practice that a lot but it’s very difficult to do.
“When I was playing for Brazil against Turkey I did the elastico and I did it against Argentina as well. For Chelsea I have also done some good skills but I can’t pick one out. Of course, in training you try to do things which you can then bring into the game, but in a match you also do things that which you have never practiced in your life, which is strange, but that’s just the way it happens.”