Will Ronaldinho be a phenom' in one of the big 3 leagues?

Dark Savante · Mar 2, 2003

Recently i've been looking for footage of Ronaldinho on the net and i've witnessed some spectacular solo goals he has scored in the French First division.

IT's obvious he's off to one of the big leagues next season and my question is do you think he will be a dominant force where-ever he goes?

I reckon if he goes to the EPL or La Liga he will become a World star in terms of press coverage and how it will shoot him through the roof in terms of fame. And also with the space you get in those two leagues he would shine( The world cup and the Nike commercials are but the tip of what could be a Ronaldo-esque Iceberg) But I'm not sure how well he would do in the stifling conditions of Serie A. What do you guys think? and where do you think El Donkey-face will end up?

I really hope he fufils his potential in terms of weekly football in a top division and doesn't just become another Denilson or something lol. People will only remember the world cup for so long and then he'll be judged on his league form again - right now people are barely interested in his performances in France cos it's seen as an inferior league and also because PSG aren't in Europe and what many are asking (including myself) is whether he could do 'that' against a backling like Inters or A.C's or Arsenals or .. you get the point..

If he does could we be witnessing a number 10 to rival Maradona in the post 86 era?

The Wanderer · Mar 2, 2003

Eventually he will be a phenom...if Adriano of Parma doesn't beat him there first.

It's going to take him a season to adjust IMHO when he first makes the move. And I think you should have said "big four" leagues(Italy, Spain, Germany and England).

astabooty · Mar 2, 2003

i think Ronaldinho will be one of the top players in terms of skill and fame when he joins one of the 3 leagues you are mentioning. i dont think he will be a maradona. and i dont think it is fair to knock on denilson. i still believe if he was in a different situation he would be doing awesome. he is still one of the most talented and best players on the Brazilian team even if he doesn't play

Dark Savante · Mar 3, 2003

My point with regards to Denilson is that he definitely will never live up to the billing he once had no matter where he goes. He was probably unfairly billed as a 'definite legend' far to early in his career and also made a poor choice of team to go to. Right now people are talking about Ronaldinho how they used to talk about Denilson and i hope he doesn't go the same way as the aformentioned.

And if you have seen some of the goals Ronaldinho has been scoring in France you will understand why i mentioned him in the same breath as MAradona. Even though the opposition isn't anything to write home about the goals he has been scoring are certainly amazing - thats why i wonder if he can do that against defenders of the highest quailty. Only time will tell.

FC Carolina · Mar 3, 2003

Originally posted by The Wanderer
It's going to take him a season to adjust IMHO when he first makes the move. And I think you should have said "big four" leagues(Italy, Spain, Germany and England).
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While the Bundesliga is certainly a quality league, it just doesn't have the worldwide notority of the EPL, La Liga and Serie A, IMO. And I think it's right that Ronaldinho will probably move to a club in one of those leagues because of the worldwide exposure he would gain from it.

My gut feeling right now is that he'll go to Barça. Probably because whoever ends up running the club will feel the need to splash the cash after what's shaping up to be a sub-par season, at least in the league. I'd look for them to overgo a roster overhaul, and Ronaldinho could be someone that's brought in.

Also, I don't know why I think this, it's just a feeling I have, but I don't think he'll need that much of a period of adjustment. Certainly not a full season. He'll step in, wherever he goes, and acquit himself quite nicely.

Dark Savante · Mar 3, 2003

If i was to wager where he'd go i'd bet on Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is one cunning guy when it comes to snapping up players plus their style of play and the fact Brazilians are already there will suit Ronaldinho.

I personally hope he doesn't go to Barca. No disrespect but i see them as a feeder club for the Better teams in Europe. They just don't hold onto their true world stars like they should and have mostly also rans or up and coming talent who will go to better clubs in a few years time. I'd hope that Ronaldinho's management don't send him there it'll hinder him.. he's already done his development work at PSG he doesn't need to do it again at another, albeit bigger but nonetheless a feeder club in Barca.

I'd like to see him go somewhere where he has a true chance of challenging for numerous honours because those teams will be the ones where he wont be the star but more a piece of an 11 man chain and where his skills and tricks wont be looked upon as wow but will be a pre requisite and performances that are 'good' wont be 'good enough- if you catch my drift, where to stand out from your teamamtes you truly must be a special player. He wont get that at Barca but he would at somewhere like Real - although they'd have absolutely no need to sign him.

I personally feel Arsenal would suit him down to a tee. And he'd transform a team who are merely good right now into a team that is great enough to win the Champions League - they'd need each other just about 50/50 and so both parties would benefit equally.

Lol i must state i am no Arsenal fan and have no leanings towards them - but for turning simmering talent into true world stars no team in europe is better then Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.

Ombak · Mar 3, 2003

I think he'd be great in Bergkamp's role at Arsenal. Frankly I'm dissapointed he hasn't moved somewhere yet sincce he's very obviously at odds with his current coach at PSG.

El_Maestro · Mar 3, 2003

Originally posted by Dark Savante
I personally hope he doesn't go to Barca. No disrespect but i see them as a feeder club for the Better teams in Europe. They just don't hold onto their true world stars like they should and have mostly also rans or up and coming talent who will go to better clubs in a few years time. I'd hope that Ronaldinho's management don't send him there it'll hinder him.. he's already done his development work at PSG he doesn't need to do it again at another, albeit bigger but nonetheless a feeder club in Barca.
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Man, if a Catalan read this he'd kick you in the nuts.

The problem with Barca this last few years has been the terrible decisions taken by its board and particularly its president, Joan Gaspart, who just quit.

The other thing is that Barca is not a public entity with shares in the stock market, it's still a private club (although culés like to say they're "more than a club"), that survives from season ticket holders, television rights, merchandising and donations.

Oh, and they don't have any sponsors in their jersey. They could make a couple of bucks from that.

Anyway, with all these problems, they're not making it that bad in the Champions League, are they?

Needless to say, I would love to see Ronaldinho in Barca's jersey, although I know it would be difficult with the club's current finances. But, you know, anyone can dream, besides, it's been a tradition this last decade that Barca has had Brazil's best talent. Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo anyone?

FC Carolina · Mar 3, 2003

Originally posted by El_Maestro
Man, if a Catalan read this he'd kick you in the nuts.
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Truer words were never spoken. Barça is not a feeder club. They've just been more of a seller than a buyer in the past few years.

Originally posted by El_Maestro
Needless to say, I would love to see Ronaldinho in Barca's jersey, although I know it would be difficult with the club's current finances. But, you know, anyone can dream, besides, it's been a tradition this last decade that Barca has had Brazil's best talent. Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo anyone?
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And that is exactly why I could see Ronaldinho heading to Barça.

Dark Savante did touch on one thing I forgot to mention...Real Madrid. That is the other Spanish team I could see Ronaldinho at, but like he said, they have no use for him. However, that hasn't stopped Florentino Perez in the past.

I just can't see Ronaldinho in England. Yes, he'd be a good fit at Arsenal, but I don't think it'll happen. I'll probably be wrong, but if he's playing in the EPL next season I'll be massively surprised. It's Spain or Italy next year, IMHO.

astabooty · Mar 3, 2003

one question...anyone have an idea of what position he will be playing? will he be in the midfield or up front? or will it matter on which team he goes to? like previouly stated i think he would be a good forward (in bergkamp's position at arsenal) but if it was at barça i would expect a midfield role.
i think in spain he would adapt very quickly, in england it would take at least half the season, and im not sure about italy. it could be quick or somewhere in between. saying barça is a feeder club is off but i see where you are coming from but their president has been fired. for them to buy him they would need to win the CL or come very close i think, maybe add a sponsor too...i personally don't see him going to Serie A tho

GringoTex · Mar 3, 2003

Is he playing up front in France? He only has 6 goals in 30 games. Not that great even for an attacking midfielder.

Dark Savante · Mar 3, 2003

i didn't say Barca was a feeder club to offend anyone. I said it because it's the truth. Ronaldo is the primest example of that..they had him at his absolute best...yet he was sold! And as sad as it is i wager Saviola will be off to a bigger club as soon as he does something major in Europe that truly sparks a Euro press frenzy.

Ronaldinho needs to go somewhere where he'll not be the 'best' player in the squad on pure repitation alone as to make him work hard and force him to feed his ego by producing the goods on the pitch. And for that reason i really hope he goes somewhere where he's a 'nice aqusition' for the club and not a necessity so that he still has the fear of being substutited, still has to prove himself to himself and his team mates and generally has to earn his place none of that would happen at Barca. He'd be gauranteed top billing and first team action every game that'd do nothing to quell his reported ego problem and would probably lead him to get carried away with his own hype.

That's why i hope he goes to somewhere like Arsenal or Inter where the teams are peppered with players who are often mentioned as the worlds best this or that and who have managers who will subsitute a player for bad performance and are world respected. I always feel players perfrom better when they have that respect for the manager that they aren't indespensible and that the team would work just fine without them Del Bosque has kinda instilled that in Ronaldo and lately Ronaldo has been trying to respond on the pitch like all footballers should and hasn't gone bitching to the press. I fear if Ronaldinho goes to the wrong club he will act in a similar way as he does at PSV that's why i fear him going into a Barca team who have had such a poor season - he'd be seen as a saving light who wouold push them to challeneg for La liga next season.

As a fan of football i just want so see Ronaldinho go somewhere where he feels he must show himself and others how great he really is. And for that reason alone i'd love to see him go to Arsenal who have:

Viera - many peoples choice as best defensive mid in the world

Pires - Pure class who has shown since going to England that he is prepared to defend and improve his all round game - if anyones an example for Ronaldinho to follow i'd point to this guy!

Henry- Some are saying he's the best striker in the world right now

Bergkamp - on the decline but with a world renound reputation and a direct threat to Ronaldinho's prospected position

It just has all the ingredients for him to shoot to the very top if he went there.

Dark Savante · Mar 3, 2003

Originally posted by El_Maestro

Needless to say, I would love to see Ronaldinho in Barca's jersey, although I know it would be difficult with the club's current finances. But, you know, anyone can dream, besides, it's been a tradition this last decade that Barca has had Brazil's best talent. Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo anyone?
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It's true what you said about the 3 R's but don't you think that just proves my point? All of them made their European name there and then left for bigger teams with more money off the back of their success at Barca and if Ronaldinho went there he would do the exact same thing - so i'd rather him skip that phase altogether and go straight to one of the top teams in Europe and get down to the nitty gritty.

Also i don't think it'd fair for the player himself to go there because of Barcas poor defence Barca don't keep the ball for half as long as most of Europes elite teams do so less chance for him to relax and shine and generally that feeling of being the underdog when up against the true big boys..i think that'd be unfair added extra pressure.

bocatuna · Mar 3, 2003

I started this post about 8 different times and still can't figure out what to say. I'll simple say that Dark Servante has got some bizarre views about football, and good luck to him.

Dark Savante · Mar 3, 2003

wuh? lol have i missed something.. care to explain what's bizarre?

lol

scd84 · Mar 3, 2003

Everyone sells players. The two clubs you mentioned, Arsenal and Inter, have both sold very highly rated players in the last few years (Ronaldo, Overmars) yet they aren't "feeder clubs"? The way Ronaldo's fitness went the last five years or so I think Barca did well to get what they did for him and they weren't paying him not to play as Inter ended up doing. Juve were trying to sell Davids at the beginning of this season, Man U might listen to offers at Beckham or Giggs next summer, but neither of these clubs is a "feeder" to bigger clubs. The fact of European soccer is that on the top level there is a lot of buying and selling between teams (Ronaldo, Inzaghi, Vieri, Zidane to name a few). Club Presidents and Chairmen are impatient and whomever happens to be on a squad they don't deem to be good enough may be fair game, or they may just accept an offer that is too good to pass up. So there's my 2 cents, I'm out.

tpmazembe · Mar 3, 2003

He’s got all the skills, vision, and “thinking a step ahead” needed today to be the best player in the world. The French league may not be considered top three, but there’s no slouching on defense. I submit to you that there are no more than 3 players in the world today capable of scoring that goal against Guingamp. The flick and skip over the slide tackler is true art, and the finishing over the keeper's inside shoulder on the dead run is just spectacular.

His reaching best in the world status will depend on health, attitude, and coaching / team tactics. Chance will be the arbitor of his health; Ronaldinho has control of his attitude; but lord knows what will determine who his next coach will be. I hope it doesn't just come down to the highest bidder.

He needs a coach with the sense to allow his creativity to come through. An Arsene Wenger yes; a Hector Cuper no. IMO he should not be played as a striker, but behind the forwards to help articulate the game.

One of the fond memories in my football life is seeing a young 17 year old playing for Gremio vs. Vasco at the Sao Januario. At the time his jersey simply said “Ronaldo” and he wore a mid-top fade (as best as can be had in southern Brasil; but still better than his current process…ugh), and he was outstanding. Taking people of the dribble, sending through balls with precision, and taking dangerous free kicks. I remember telling my boy this kid was a phenom. I’m rooting for him to go all the way to best in the world.

Dark Savante · Mar 3, 2003

Originally posted by scd84
Everyone sells players. The two clubs you mentioned, Arsenal and Inter, have both sold very highly rated players in the last few years (Ronaldo, Overmars) yet they aren't "feeder clubs"? The way Ronaldo's fitness went the last five years or so I think Barca did well to get what they did for him and they weren't paying him not to play as Inter ended up doing. Juve were trying to sell Davids at the beginning of this season, Man U might listen to offers at Beckham or Giggs next summer, but neither of these clubs is a "feeder" to bigger clubs. The fact of European soccer is that on the top level there is a lot of buying and selling between teams (Ronaldo, Inzaghi, Vieri, Zidane to name a few). Club Presidents and Chairmen are impatient and whomever happens to be on a squad they don't deem to be good enough may be fair game, or they may just accept an offer that is too good to pass up. So there's my 2 cents, I'm out.
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I didn't say what i said about Barca to upset you Barca fans. And i'd prefer this thread to stay on topic if at all possible,

Nearly all the players you mentioned from those other teams were sold for tactical reasons the money offered was a bonus for example 20 something million pounds for 1 dimensional Marc Overmaars isn't a deal that's gonna be scoffed at. And also if Beckham and Giggs are sold this smmer it will be for poor performances ... but Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo ?? poor performances? one dimensional?? I wont press the matter further. In my eyes Barcelona are a feeder club at this present period of time.

Dark Savante · Mar 3, 2003

Originally posted by tpmazembe
He’s got all the skills, vision, and “thinking a step ahead” needed today to be the best player in the world. The French league may not be considered top three, but there’s no slouching on defense. I submit to you that there are no more than 3 players in the world today capable of scoring that goal against Guingamp. The flick and skip over the slide tackler is true art, and the finishing over the keeper's inside shoulder on the dead run is just spectacular.

His reaching best in the world status will depend on health, attitude, and coaching / team tactics. Chance will be the arbitor of his health; Ronaldinho has control of his attitude; but lord knows what will determine who his next coach will be. I hope it doesn't just come down to the highest bidder.

He needs a coach with the sense to allow his creativity to come through. An Arsene Wenger yes; a Hector Cuper no. IMO he should not be played as a striker, but behind the forwards to help articulate the game.

One of the fond memories in my football life is seeing a young 17 year old playing for Gremio vs. Vasco at the Sao Januario. At the time his jersey simply said “Ronaldo” and he wore a mid-top fade (as best as can be had in southern Brasil; but still better than his current process…ugh), and he was outstanding. Taking people of the dribble, sending through balls with precision, and taking dangerous free kicks. I remember telling my boy this kid was a phenom. I’m rooting for him to go all the way to best in the world.
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This is all i want to see. His talent simply being taken to it's highest potential. Can you imagine if Ronaldinho had scored THAT goal against a team like say a.c milan or something lol the world press would go into a frenzy....and this is what i forsee happening if he takes his skills to the stellar level he is capable of.

El_Maestro · Mar 3, 2003

Originally posted by Dark Savante
I didn't say what i said about Barca to upset you Barca fans. And i'd prefer this thread to stay on topic if at all possible,

Nearly all the players you mentioned from those other teams were sold for tactical reasons the money offered was a bonus for example 20 something million pounds for 1 dimensional Marc Overmaars isn't a deal that's gonna be scoffed at. And also if Beckham and Giggs are sold this smmer it will be for poor performances ... but Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo ?? poor performances? one dimensional?? I wont press the matter further. In my eyes Barcelona are a feeder club at this present period of time.
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Rivaldo will be 31 years old in April, he gave Barca his best years and when they bought him he already had one season in Deportivo de La Coruña, so he was proven. And when he left, he did so because he didn't get along with the coach, Van Gaal, not because Barca was trying to make a buck.

After Romario left Barcelona he scored tons of goals in several Brazilian clubs, had few stints in the national team, but his international career never reached the level he had when he was in Barca. He tried an European comeback with Valencia but failed miserably.

Ronaldo's case is different, he's an incredible player but only thinks in the money. In the end Barcelona had the last laugh because they didn't have to pay him while he was injured, Inter (that non feeder team) had to.

Ombak · Mar 3, 2003

If Ronaldo's all about the money how come he plays his best for Brazil not the clubs that pay him?

Don't get me wrong, I understand the gripe Inter fans have with him, but not Barça fans. He gave them great years and then moved to, at the time, what looked like a better challenge for the best player in the world.

bocatuna · Mar 4, 2003

Originally posted by Ombak
If Ronaldo's all about the money how come he plays his best for Brazil not the clubs that pay him?

Don't get me wrong, I understand the gripe Inter fans have with him, but not Barça fans. He gave them great years and then moved to, at the time, what looked like a better challenge for the best player in the world.
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I always thought that Ronaldo's move to Inter was heavily influenced by Nike.

FC Carolina · Mar 4, 2003

Found a 1997 article from the International Herald Tribune that certainly hints at that:

http://www.iht.com/IHT/RH/97/rh052197.html

Interesting though that Barca is also a Nike club. They have been since at least 1999 - I have a Barca centenary jersey made by Nike. Anyone know when that relationship started?

There were also the rumors that Nike influenced Ronaldo's selection for the 1998 WC final, despite his collapse before the game.

Interesting, also, that while I was trying to find something about Nike's role in Ronaldo's transfer to Inter, I came across an article from 2001 that said that the company was trying to broker a transfer for Ronaldo from Inter Milan -- to Barcelona! Guess that never happened.

AFCA · Mar 4, 2003

Originally posted by Dark Savante
It's true what you said about the 3 R's but don't you think that just proves my point? All of them made their European name there and then left for bigger teams with more money off the back of their success at Barca and if Ronaldinho went there he would do the exact same thing - so i'd rather him skip that phase altogether and go straight to one of the top teams in Europe and get down to the nitty gritty.

Also i don't think it'd fair for the player himself to go there because of Barcas poor defence Barca don't keep the ball for half as long as most of Europes elite teams do so less chance for him to relax and shine and generally that feeling of being the underdog when up against the true big boys..i think that'd be unfair added extra pressure.
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Romario made his European name at PSV. Not at Barca.

El_Maestro · Mar 4, 2003

Originally posted by Ombak
If Ronaldo's all about the money how come he plays his best for Brazil not the clubs that pay him?

Don't get me wrong, I understand the gripe Inter fans have with him, but not Barça fans. He gave them great years and then moved to, at the time, what looked like a better challenge for the best player in the world.
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I agree that his playing for the national team is nothing but unselfish, well, he's gotta have some feelings in his heart, and is his country after all.

But he didn't give Barcelona "great years", he was there for ONE SEASON, then Inter came with their huge checkbook and of course good ol' Ronaldo walked.