With the winter transfer window approaching, the stories of offers for Ronaldinho are appearing regularly in the press. Ronnie’s chief suitors are once again AC Milan and Chelsea, and the bids are supposed to be in the region of €60million. The irregular form of the Brazilian has sparked a debate within the club as to whether it might now be the time to thank Ronnie for his time at the club and take the money.
Ronaldinho received a lot of criticism last season for not playing to his usual high standards and Ronnie blamed a lack of rest after the World Cup, combined with pre-season tours and the mid-season trip to Japan for the World Club Championship. However, this summer he did get a proper rest after declining to play for Brazil in the Copa America, yet so far this season there has been little noticeable improvement in his game.
Ronnie’s case has not been helped by stories surrounding his private life. His supposed love of night clubs and parties has often been mentioned, and rumours that go furthur have been doing the rounds in Barcelona. Unfortunately for Ronnie anything he does is put under the spotlight, and there are always people who are trying to destabilize things at the club (just today there is a story about a supposed fracas in the street involving Joan Laporta, a story that has two completely different sides depending on who you want to believe).
This week Txiki Beguiristain, Leo Messi and Carles Puyol have all spoken out in Ronnie’s defence. Personally, I don’t think he is playing that badly, though he didn’t play well on Sunday against Almeria. Even when he is not at his best his contribution to the team is often vital. He is not the best in the world any more, but he would probably still make the top ten. I don’t feel the youngsters are quite ready to fill his boots yet. However, the team did seem to play better when Iniesta played in his place and many would say there is more speed without him.
Balanced against the money Barça could make from a sale, it must be remembered that there is still a lot of income from shirt sales, and the figure of Ronnie attracts people around the world to the club. Moreover, can you imagine anything worse than Ronnie finding his old form for Chelsea or Milan and helping to knock Barça out of the Champions League?
So what do you think, should Barça sell him? Can Ronnie find his old form or is he past it already?
8 responses so far ↓
Gaz Johnson // Oct 30, 2007 at 15:48
I think Barcelona should ‘take the money and run’ so to speak. 60million euros is too much money for any player in my mind, especially for one in the latter stages of his career who is past his peak. Couple that with the amazing talents coming through the Barcelona youth ranks, and you have to admit that if a bid of that proportion came in they would have to snap it up!
Miki Copela // Oct 30, 2007 at 15:59
I think thet we should give Ronni a chance we have to remember thet he is the Barca number one player so he deservs seckond chanse he is the body and the soul of this team and Barca would not be Barca widauth him.
kuga // Oct 30, 2007 at 18:27
I totally agree with u MIKI COPELA..
it’s ronnie.. we shud give him a chance..what will be more hurting than ronnie leaving the club…and play against barca in champs league..
Miki Copela // Oct 30, 2007 at 22:24
It will be painfoul but we have to try to keep him in Barca hi is our leeder hi must stay.I don’t thin thet 60 milions are to litly for a player of his class.But Bacelona has a good future in dos santos,and bojan so I thin its wise to sell him and leave space for the young players.
FCB - Canada // Oct 30, 2007 at 23:38
Whether he leaves or stays I’m sticking with the bucked-tooth Brazilian. I owe him that much, after showing me what the beautiful game of soccer is about (Youtubed his name after all the controversy at the end of the last world cup and the rest is history). I’ve watched practically all the Barca matches since then and I’m always disappointed when he doesn’t play.
This is what I think and granted I didn’t get to watch the games when Barca was in top form so I can’t compare. I don’t think his performance is related to his physical well-being. I think it’s more of a mental change more then anything. Maybe it has to do with all his past accolades that he doesn’t feel like he needs to prove anything I don’t know. It seems to me though that he enjoys playing the role of support more then attacker. I think this is why Messi admires him as much as he does, as does many of the other players. Look at how he’s trying to always help Giovanni. Remember the dummy over ball through to Gio or how about the 3-5 crosses from last game to him. Granted they never connected to anything but the intention was still there.
I think in the end Ronnie will leave. I think he’ll stick it out till the end of the season and then leave but not this coming transfer window. And when he leaves I will be there supporting and cheering the next team he goes to. The change in scenery will be good for him. I’ll watch Barca only because of Messi who really is playing some outstanding soccer. I do hope Messi continues this way and gets the accolades he deserves. I think Gio is overrated. Doesn’t have the mental skill of the likes of Ronnie. Bojan in that respect looks better then he does. Time will tell.
Having said that I would love Ronnie to be more selfish at times. Go for the shot on net (only 7 shots this year compared to 26 by Henry) or go towards the net more period. I would like to see him hustle more for the ball. Defenders have gotten smarter I think he needs to adjust better.
Anyways that’s just my 2 cents.
blaugranafan // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:29
Ronnie is cup-tied. Don’t forget this fact when evaluating whether or not he ‘will’ leave.
He didn’t play as consistently last year as he did in past years, but on the other hand, he had to put Barca on his back when both Leo and Sammy were out. I don’t think people give Ronnie enough credit for keeping Barca in the race last year. Given last year’s injuries, without Ronnie, Barca would have struggled to crack the top 4.
Hard to say if Ronnie will regain his previous form, but I do think his potential ability is second-to-none in certain aspects of the game. Past achievements buy a player some amount of good will, but that’s long gone and now it’s time for Ronnie to step it up. B/c of the potential form we already know he can achieve, however, we should give him to year’s end to regain his form.
Snyde // Oct 31, 2007 at 7:03
The problem with Ronnie is that he has to show commitment towards the team and show hard work. He is improving alot. But the reason why he is being whistled is that if people find him in a bar before the match or partying in brazil with robinho and arrive so late, cules have no reason to support him during his low times. Last year his ‘gym sessions’ was what annoyed the cules so much. But if he shows commitment then we should be behind him, helping him become the best again. Because of what he did for the club (and that was HUGE) he deserves all the cules support, but he MUST show commitment as well.
All in all I’m saying Ronnie still would have had our support if he didnt act like a ‘galactico’ last year. Since he broke so many cules’ trust he has to earn it back. The Ronnie of old is priceless, but we shouldn’t have an under-performing galactico.
On a happy note, imagine the Ronnie of old with the Superb Messi we are witnessing! One can dream!!
barca heart // Apr 27, 2008 at 6:22
I THINK WE SHOULD SELL HIM BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME GREAT TALLENT TO COME OUT OF BARCA AND THE YOUNG PLAYERS SHOULD GET A CHANCE TO SHINE I THINK HE SHOULD GO TO AC MILAN BUT NO MATTER WHAT HE IS THE BEST PLAYER IN MY BOOK NOT C.RONALDO OR THE MARVELOUS L. MESSI DINHO IS A REALLY UNIQUE PLAYER.
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