- Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Brazilians react to Ronaldo’s retirement
- Date: 15th February 2011
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (FEBRUARY 14, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RIO PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OFFICE BOY, MICHAEL SOUZA, SAYING: "I think it was very good. I cheer for Flamengo, thank God, and I think it was good that he stopped, it was about time -- he was very fat." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SOCCER FAN, ANDRE VEIGA DE MELO, SAYING: "I think that (Corinthians) fans got to a point where it was scary -- aggressions, threats, even with him (Ronaldo). He came from abroad and in Europe is not like this. It also happened to Roberto Carlos, who has already quit (Corinthians)." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SOCCER FAN JOVENILDO DE OLIVEIRA, SAYING: "We will miss him very much, but, considering he will always be on the media, we'll be able to see him often."
- Embargoed: 2nd March 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil, Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVACLJVTERGQRDEDYF0ZSXCIQ4PO
- Story Text: As former Brazil striker Ronaldo prepares to hang up his boots, Brazilian soccer fans in Rio de Janeiro said they felt sad with the star's retirement but believed the timing was right.
The 34-year-old three-time World Player of the Year will make his announcement in a news conference at the Corinthians training ground on Monday (January 14). He is ending a brilliant career in which he scored more than 400 goals including a record 15 at World Cups.
Ronaldo has a contract with Corinthians until the end of 2011 but is bringing his retirement forward after the team's shock early elimination from the Libertadores Cup and violent protests from fans.
The former Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan forward was born in the outskirts of Rio in 1976 and began his career with Minas Gerais-based club Cruzeiro in 1993. He was transferred to PSV Eindhoven the following season, where he scored 42 goals in 46 appearances.
Office boy Michael Souza said Ronaldo made the right decision.
"I think it was very good. I cheer for Flamengo, thank God, and I think it was good that he stopped, it was about time -- he was very fat," he said.
After recovering from a third knee injury in February of 2008, Ronaldo started training at Rio club Flamengo, where fans and board members were hoping he would stay. But the striker made a surprise move to Corinthians, and came under strong criticism from skeptics who doubted he would ever regain his appetite for the game.
More criticism poured in after another of the player's off-field scandals, when he was caught with three transvestites in Rio de Janeiro, having gone to a motel with them believing they were call girls.
Ronaldo helped Corinthians win the Copa Brasil and Paulista (Sao Paulo) state championship last year, but the club disappointed in the two big competitions of 2010, their centenary year, failing to get past the round of 16 of the Libertadores cup or win the Brazilian championship.
The forward missed many matches through injury and fans began to show their irritation. This came to a head after Corinthians lost 2-0 away to Deportes Tolima of Colombia 10 days ago in the second leg of their Libertadores Cup preliminary round tie having drawn 0-0 at home. They were eliminated from the competition.
Soccer fan Andre Veiga de Melo said he believed Corinthians fans' aggressive reaction to the elimination triggered Ronaldo's retirement.
"I think that (Corinthians) fans got to a point where it was scary -- aggressions, threats, even with him (Ronaldo). He came from abroad and in Europe is not like this. It also happened to Roberto Carlos, who has already quit (Corinthians)," he said.
Rio resident Jovenildo de Oliveira said soccer fans will miss seeing him on the fields.
"We will miss him very much, but, considering he will always be on the media, we'll be able to see him often," he said.
The striker, an unused squad member when Brazil won the World Cup in 1994 and their top scorer when they won their record fifth title in 2002, is expected to remain at the club in an administrative role. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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