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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we love roni we cant do without him although is the bosat type but we still miss him
- Posted by tobi oseniAs long as Cruyff continues to make the decisions at Barcelona, none of this matters a jot.
Next season Barça will again win nothing, because Cruyff insists on having “Pep” Guardiola as coach. (Remember, you read it here first.)
Why does Cruyff want him? Because he´ll do whatever his Dutch master tells him to do! Something which, incredibly enough, the elected President Joan Laporta admitted to doing himself, in a local media interview about 2 months ago.
Imagine if Pat Crerand were still calling the shots at Old Trafford.
You couldn´t make it up, could you?
- Posted by F E mattimoeRonaldinho should stay, but if leaves he should go to Ac milan. MLS and Premier league suck.
- Posted by joseRonaldihno last days on Fc Barcelona!
- Posted by BarcafreakIf you read the news you know Ronni plays the last days on Spanish ground.
No Real Madrid,No to the Uk but to Italy thats a fact.
La porta say he likes if Ronaldihno plays to the end of this league 2008,playing the last
games and the Champions league with Manchester.
For ronni the last posibility to play the best moments and stop with love and respect!
Thanks Ronaldihno for all you didd for us!
Fc Barcelona comunity Barca4ever
It’s amazing to hear the sentimental comments about “Roni”. I think Barca are best to oust him; NOW! The old Liverpool under Shanks & Paisley knew when to release a player, normally when he appeared to be at his peak. It’s no different with Ronaldhino. Personally, I’m looking forward to see what ridiculous coach decides he’s the “must have” player. He’ll never recapture the magic he said 2-3 seasons ago. Like Shevchenko, Figo, Rivaldo & all those so called world class players before him, they’ve won & earnt so much that their appetite for success has long past. Buy Roni at your peril!
- Posted by Mark CanningI am very upset to say that roni is leaving Barca because i am a fan of roni in barca shirt …….but he has to leave……….I want him to join Arsenal!!!!!!!
- Posted by Hassan MustafaNicely written article. I think the problem that Barca is having stems froms above. I think Laporta and Rijkaard need to shift out to allow for new guidance. Ronnie is following the path of Ronaldo which we already know how that path ends. It is a huge dissappointment to see such a key player both physically and emotionally (his effect on the fans and the team) transform from a world player of the year to a lazy bench rider. Ronnies problem is mental, when you watch him play now its like he has no confidence in his own skill. I dont want to see him leave Barca, however would it be so bad to the teams performance? They have wasted key opportunities just as they did last season and now are in 3rd behind villareal and those suckers real madrid (cant stand em). Unfortunately time passes and change takes place…I just wish i could roll back the clock to the days of the barca happy family.
- Posted by AaronI am a huge barca fan and hate to say it but roni needs to leave barca so he can shine somewhere else.I think he will go to the english premire league hopefully to chelsea or aresenel.He still has alot in him and needs a new team to prove it.
- Posted by chrisI think ronaldinho is going to play for Al-Faysali FC a Jordanian team very well known to many people somewhere in the world …:-)
- Posted by Marhabaplease to barca let our star leave and find a good team that will worm welcome him.But i would like him to come down to england for man-u or asernal.
- Posted by nathiIt’s funny, but in the pre-match press conference at Schalke this week a journalist asked Rijkaard if it was true Ronaldinho would not play again for Barcelona. The rumour was that Rijkaard, or someone else at the club, had had enough. I guess this injury makes it more likely we won’t see him again in a Barcelona shirt, which is a sad thought.
- Posted by Kevin FylanHe has just been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.. has he played his last game for Barca and will he miss a potential Champions League final?
- Posted by Mark MeadowsHe is gone and will be playing for Fenerbahce. This deal has already been cut, and the Italian media, Catalans and Fenerbahce CEO are all very happy from this deal including Ronaldinho himself.
- Posted by Alan KayIf Ronaldinho does leave, I think either AC Milan or Arsenal would be a good fit. Arsenal is currently being criticized for not beefing up their team to give them more depth and with how they have struggled since loosing Eduardo, I would have to agree. Arsenal would be my bet and I’m sure a welcomed addition to the squad, since Arsenal is so hungry.
- Posted by RickI hope he stays. He’s a great player and still has a place for Barcelona. I don’t think he’d be so successful in England as in Spain.
- Posted by Luci will be the most on happy person to see ronaldinho leaving barclona,because it a great thing of joy for me seeing ronaldno playing along side with messi and etoo.The absence of ronaldinho now for some matches is affecting barca and i must confess,if continues like thay,i dont see barco winning and league again and i will lose my confidence in barca.pls if there is any problem,i coach rychard to settle it.pls barca do me a favour by winning the champions league.
- Posted by sebastian inogbogood come to leeds fc i can dream it come on ron what are you waiting four christams or what
- Posted by DYLANthey alaways say that but it would be nice if he dose.
- Posted by DYLANiam arsenal fan when thirrey henry leave i was sook but it would be nice if came to arsenal
dylan from isle of sheppey kent
age 13
Tayfun - erm, the World Cup in Germany was two years ago. Are the Americans really that far behind? *snigger*
- Posted by Rolls Eyesur articles are just amazin!!! keep em comin
- Posted by zam zam