Ronaldinho to play for Ecuador's Barcelona

Source: Xinhua | January 23, 2016, Saturday |

Online Edition

RONALDINHO will play for Ecuador's Barcelona in a friendly against Peru's Universidad San Martin next week, the Guayaquil-based club said on Friday.

The once-off appearance by the 35-year-old was secured during talks between Barcelona officials and Ronaldinho's brother Roberto de Assis this week.

"This is a happy moment that we want to give to our fans," Barcelona president Jose Francisco Cevallos told a press conference on Friday.

The 2002 World Cup winner has not played competitively since ending an unhappy three-month spell with Brazil's Fluminense in October.

He again represented Fluminense during the Florida Cup friendly tournament this week, honoring a pledge he made upon joining the Rio de Janeiro club.

Ronaldinho's agreement with Barcelona is understood to include several marketing appearances before the match.

The friendly will be played at Guayaquil's Monumental stadium on January 29.

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