The fixture

Ravenna has confirmed that Ronaldinho will play for the club on Sunday, 15 November, when Ravenna host Forlì in a regional derby at the Stadio Bruno Benelli, with kick-off at 17:30. The club expects the occasion to draw attention well beyond Romagna, and ticket details will be announced through its official channels. Ronaldinho, 46, has not played an official match since 26 September 2015, when he appeared for Fluminense against Goiás. The club said the wait is almost over, presenting the date as the moment its long-running campaign reaches the field.

From retirement to a Ravenna shirt

Ravenna first announced in June that Ronaldinho would come out of retirement with the aim of scoring what the club called his last goal as a professional. Club owner Ignazio Cipriani, who runs a luxury hospitality business in the United States, said at the time that Ronaldinho would take part in at least one competitive match, and perhaps more. Cipriani rejected the suggestion that the signing was a marketing stunt and said Ronaldinho would also sit on the club's board. The signing was first announced in Miami, and supporters later greeted him on the beach at Marina di Ravenna on 20 August. Ravenna players wear shirts from R10, Ronaldinho's own brand.

Coach, squad and the season

Ravenna are second in Serie C Group B with 20 points after 10 matchdays, eight points behind leaders Spezia. Coach Mandorlini has accepted Ronaldinho's arrival calmly and will decide how and when to use him in the derby. Ronaldinho has followed a personalised training programme over the months since the summer. Ariedo Braida, the club's vice-president and a former Milan figure, was among those who pushed for the signing. The owners want the fixture to reward supporters and to show their ambitions of returning to Serie A soon.

The club's message

Ravenna's statement presented the match as the moment to bring his talent back to the field, and it framed the signing as something the club had long been told was impossible.

“The magic never went away, now it is time to bring him back onto the pitch.”

Cipriani said the club had kept believing in the project from the first day and described the match as a result the club wanted to share with every supporter.

“They told us it was impossible. On 15 November Ronaldinho will play at the Benelli in our shirt, in a derby as big as the one against Forlì.”

Cipriani has also said his dream is for Ronaldinho to score the final goal of his career for Ravenna. Ticket details will be published through the club's official channels before the derby on 15 November.