Is Ronaldinho about to become the latest player to leave the Nou Camp by the back door?
Marca and the rest of the Madrid-based media seem convinced of it, meaning we could be about to see the former World Player of the Year following the well trodden path of such luminaries as Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Romario, Juan Roman Riquelme, Luis Figo, Hristo Stoichkov, Bernd Schuster and Maradona.
All of these players underwent the transformation from Nou Camp idol to persona non grata in a remarkably short space of time.
Maradona left for Napoli after a traumatic two-year spell at the club marked by a bout of hepatitis, a horrendous tackle by Athletic Bilbao defender Andoni Goikoetxea, rumours of drug taking and a mass brawl after the final of the King’s Cup.
Schuster was ousted after walking out following the team’s defeat in the 1986 European Cup and a subsequent legal wrangle with the club. Romario and Stoichkov were not on speaking terms with then coach Johan Cruyff when they left the club.
Ronaldo departed at the peak of his powers after just one glorious season with the Catalans in which he racked up 34 goals in 37 matches, deciding that he would get better treatment at Inter Milan.
Luis Figo, of course, famously defected to Real Madrid after he was offered a more succulent deal by presidential candidate Florentino Perez, while Rivaldo was revered for the wonderful hat-trick that put Barca in the Champions League only to be ushered out of the side door a year later.
Other top Barcelona players such as Gary Lineker, Steve Archibald, Ivan de la Peña and Patrick Kluivert could all have left under better circumstances. Ronaldinho’s career at Barcelona appears to be following a depressingly familiar line.
Having guided Barcelona to two league titles and victory in the Champions League in his first three seasons at the club he is now being accused of failing to pull his weight.
Fitness problems, no-shows at training, a series of below-par performances on the pitch and rumours about late nights have all served to tarnish his reputation. Some of the local media even say that Barca will be prepared to let him leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, while the latest stories suggest he could exercise FIFA’s article 17 and buy himself out of the contract for a song.
It is hard to believe that only two seasons ago he was the most sought-after player on the planet. What is it about Barcelona’s tendency to devour its own sons?
We asked at the start of this season whether it was time Barcelona let Ronadinho go, and the consensus was that it would be too great a loss for the club. I wonder how many people have changed their minds.
Simon Baskett, Madrid
PHOTO: Ronaldinho reacts during the Atletico Madrid-Barcelona match in Madrid, March 1. REUTERS/Susana Vera
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“The last time Ronaldinho will celebrate with his team mates
In a shock report from Barcelona F.C. yesterday night Joan La Porta in a press conference said “We have been in contact with Fenerbahçe over the last few days over the possiblity of Ronaldinho moving to Turkey. A sum of €56 million (Euros), half to be paid after teh World Cup, and the other half in 2 installments over the next two seasons. It is unfortunate that Ronaldinho has to move, but he has been struggling to fit in with other players regretably.”
This press conference held yesterday is propably the biggest shock in the footballing world to date, especially on the eve of the World Cup. Ronaldinho, having arrived at Germany for the World Cup with the 23 man squad, will be contacted by Fenerbahçe agents to sign on the dotted line.
He is expected to sign a 5 year contract with a supposed €150,000 (Euros) a week in wages, and a big signing on bonus. The club is also accepted to pay for his image rights which won”
From an american news paper website
- Posted by TayfunRoni, did not lose his skills overnight or over a season. Roni and Kaka are players in a different league.
- Posted by Nima KingYou guys need to have more knowledge about our culture before judging the best player in this planet. For us Futebol is first an art and we play it at the best when we have fun and the environment is good. Now Roni has some issues with the president and the team Barca and this is the reason we do not see his best performance. Rivaldo, Maradonna, Romario, Figo, etc. etc. they all had the same problem with this club. Having said that, Who’s problem is it now? this is the question I want to leave you with.
Great players like Ronaldinho do not lose their skills overnight or over a season. At 28-year-old he is in his athletic prime. This happens in all professional sports. A player will get stale with one team, move to another, and begin to shine again. Usually the problem is not that the player has lost his skills — usually he is just unhappy. Ronaldinho is not only great — he will probably get even more brilliant. Just give him a new team and a fresh start and soccer fans will be worshipping him again.
- Posted by JoseTo ”Ronnie’s causin” and everyone else: Ronnie has already let his friends know that barca is a family to him and would never sign to an English team,as the players there behave badly towards him.
- Posted by dahliaronni i is my hero and is the best he should stay at barca and and get a good maniger if not he should go to man u please daont leve ronni barca love you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by finn sladeIts sad to see him falling off like this. I’m a big Madrid fan, but I also have respect for this guy. I’m telling you that Madrid is usually a club to get well known players but not even Madrid is interested in this guy anymore. I think he is done and perhaps he should settle with a med table team in Italy or England cus no big clubs want him unless they are getting a real good deal from Barca and can use him as a sub at times.
- Posted by RobbiHala MaDRID!
Ronaldinho was and still the best player in the world… till now he has his spectaculer touch that no player has this talent. I am Barcelona fan, but honastly they are really bad this season because they are lacking a player such him and Messi and they should change frank Rijkaard because his time is over …..
- Posted by PierreI love Ronnie and Barca are boring when he’s not playing. He should use the get out the clause, leave now and come to England where he would be appreciated.
- Posted by juliannI think that if he does leave, he’ll probably jump from another team to real madrid. Maybe not quick but will eventually end up there one way or another.
- Posted by markto mr mark he is still one of the best ,
- Posted by mohamedshakbtak is not the team for roni and really i hope he will go out from barca and conme to it with another team to defeat them on their stadium and let us see what they will say after that
i think Barca will loose if they let roni out, barca is too weak with out roni even it is very obvious that roni is not in his good shap and fitness but still he have the charm and effect when he is arround specially when mesi and etto is there too,
- Posted by mohamedbut i am not with these people who said that barca has no need for roni it is a big lie and we will see what the future will lead to?
trust me ronaldinho will go to english league and join either arsenal or man u or chelsea but not to italian league or spanish league.
i am ronaldinho’s causin.
- Posted by ronaldinhosccrThe only question for me is where he will go.
- Posted by Red DevilI would take him at “The Arsenal”. The prof. would teach him how to be a star again, to see him rekindle and set the Emrates on fire would be a dream. He has 3 or 4 good years left in him. I needs to be somewhere that he has to prove something, this guy is too good to appear to fall off so bad. It’s certainly mental and mr. wenger can fix that.
- Posted by PakaFirst of all I wish to thank the author for this high quality article. The best I’ve read on the whole issue sofar. I’m a big fan of Ronaldinho and I think he should and will leave for his own best.
- Posted by ErnieHe’s going to Manchester City - trust me
- Posted by PatrickHe’ll go to the MLS!
- Posted by Five TimesI am Real Madrid fans, we don’t need him. i would prefer AC MILAN than any other clubs cause it suited him.
- Posted by RioIf he does go, I bet Barcelona fans are terrified he\’ll jump ship to Real Madrid. I wonder if there\’s a clause in his contracy to stop that.
- Posted by Kevin FylanLooking further afield, I suppose Man U don\’t really need him any more, but maybe Liverpool would take a punt.
He’s got so bad that the Italian media have pretty much stopped talking about him coming to Milan. To be honest I can’t see him fitting in at Chelsea either so where’s left?
- Posted by Mark MeadowsShakhtar Donetsk have got the money…