- Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Ronaldinho makes winning Flamengo debut
- Date: 5th February 2011
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 2, 2011) (REUTERS) FLAMENGO SUPPORTERS ON BLEACHERS, WEARING RONALDINHO MASKS FLAMENGO FORWARD RONALDINHO GAUCHO WALKING INTO FIELD GENERAL VIEW OF BLEACHERS, SUPPORTERS HOLDING BANNERS, READING:"WELCOME R10" VARIOUS OF RONALDINHO POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH FLAMENGO SQUAD SUPPORTERS WAVING FLAGS WITH RONALDINHO'S FACE FORMER FLAMENGO CAPTAIN LEONARDO MOURA HANDING ARM BAND TO RONALDINHO GENERAL VIEW OF BEGINNING OF MATCH GENERAL VIEW OF MATCH VARIOUS OF RONALDINHO ON FIELD CAMERAMAN VARIOUS OF RONALDINHO ON FIELD RONALDINHO LEAVING FIELD DURING HALFTIME FLAMENGO SUPPORTER HOLDING BANNER, READING: "RONALDINHO IS OURS, AND ENGENHAO AS WELL" GENERAL VIEW OF SUPPORTERS ON BLEACHERS VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS WEARING RONALDINHO MASKS FLAMENGO STRIKER WANDERLEY SCORING GOAL AND CELEBRATING VARIOUS OF RONALDINHO THANKING FLAMENGO SUPPORTERS IN THE END OF MATCH (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FLAMENGO SUPPORTER, AILTON DE FREITAS, SAYING: "(Ronaldinho) played well, but he had been off the fields for a long time. Once he gets back to the game's rhythm he will be good for Flamengo." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) UNIDENTIFIED FLAMENGO SUPPORTER, SAYING: "Today he didn't show all his potential, but he is still going to show it, there are many games ahead." FLAMENGO COACH VANDERLEI LUXEMBURGO ARRIVING IN NEWS CONFERENCE GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) FLAMENGO COACH VANDERLEI LUXEMBURGO, SAYING: "I don't want to create expectations because establishing measures and expectations (is not good). He was named the world's player of the year twice; I think that answers your question. So, let the guy play." ZOOM OUT OF RONALDINHO LEAVING FIELD, THANKING FLAMENGO SUPPORTERS IN THE END OF MATCH
- Embargoed: 20th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil, Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA5EAK1Y4YWOSKKNTK3ANCBG3IX
- Story Text: Over 40,000 Flamengo fans packed the Enganhao stadium on Wednesday (February 2) night to greet Ronaldinho on his debut for the club with a mosaic that said "Welcome R10."
In his first match for a Brazilian club for 10 years, Ronaldinho led Brazil's most popular team out as their new captain for a Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) state championship match against Nova Iguacu that Flamengo won 1-0.
Ronaldinho, twice FIFA World Player of the Year in his prime at Barcelona in the mid-2000s, brought a save from visiting goalkeeper Diogo Silva with a free kick and was part of some slick moves.
Nova Iguacu proved tough opponents, though, and Flamengo had to wait until four minutes from time to score through substitute Wanderley.
Most fans considered Ronaldinho's performance regular and remained positive that he would get back to his old shape in a few games.
Flamengo fan Ailton de Freitas, 39, said he was confident Ronaldinho would improve throughout the championship.
"(Ronaldinho) played well, but he had been off the fields for a long time. Once he gets back to the game's rhythm, he will be good for Flamengo."
"Today he didn't show all his potential, but he is still going to show it, there are many games ahead," said another fan.
In the end of the match, the 30-year-old forward thanked fans amid the party atmosphere in the ground where Rio's major matches are being played while the Maracana undergoes 2014 World Cup refurbishments.
Flamengo coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo said he would also give time for Ronaldinho to get back on track.
"I don't want to create expectations because establishing measures and expectations (is not good). He was named the world's player of the year twice; I think that answers your question. So, let the guy play," he said.
The former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder signed with Flamengo last month to rediscover his best form at home with an eye on a place in Brazil coach Mano Menezes's 2014 World Cup side.
Ronaldinho, who began his career in southern Brazil with Gremio before a first European move to Paris St Germain, won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and also played at the 2006 finals but was overlooked for last year's tournament in South Africa due to his indifferent form at Milan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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