Could Ronaldinho have an impact in the Premier League?
It is incredible to think that a player of Ronaldinho’s global popularity and appeal has never played in the Premier League.
With Lionel Messi, too, you get the feeling that he will never play for a Premier League team because he is treated like a king at Barcelona (and rightly so).
Since leaving Barcelona in 2008 when Pep Guardiola stepped in as manager and cleared the decks, Ronaldinho has enjoyed a spell with AC Milan in Italy before heading back to Brazil where he has enjoyed successful spells with Flamengo and now Atletico Mineiro.
Mineiro defeated Olimpia this past week to win the Libertadores and Ronaldinho join a select group of players who have won both the Champions League and its south American equivalent.
It also showed that, at 33, Ronaldinho has still got it and can influence games as he was a key reason why Meneiro won the competition.
Could his performances for Meneiro have alerted teams in Europe who thought he had lost all his powers? Were reports of Ronaldinho’s demise greatly exaggerated? I think that this is quite possibly the case and I wouldn’t be surprised if a few teams around Europe were now enquiring on the Brazilian’s availability.
And why not? If he is still playing at a high level of football and proving to be decisive then it would be a shrewd bit of business if someone were to take him on loan.
But, considering his age, would he be able to keep up with the break neck pace of Premier League football?
I don’t think he would have to. Ronaldinho is a very smart and creative footballer and he would know that in order to remain effective his game would have to be adapted. His passing and vision would be his main weapons as opposed to his pace and flair.
It would not surprise me in the slightest if a top European club took a chance on Ronaldinho and acquired his services on a season long loan and a smart move it may well prove to be too.
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