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Star quality Time for Barca to live up to reputation, says RonaldinhoPosted: Wednesday August 13, 2003 1:03 PM
By Charles Froggatt, CNN LEICESTER, England (CNN) -– New Barcelona signing Ronaldinho says the Catalan giant must live up to its reputation as one of the world’s greatest clubs. In the transfer saga of the summer, the Brazilian World Cup winner signed for Barca last month from Paris St. Germain for US$23 million, favouring the Spanish side over English champion Manchester United. But despite turning down guaranteed Champions League football and a chance to fill the shoes of David Beckham at Old Trafford, the 23-year-old still believes he has made the right choice. “I picked Barcelona because it’s a great club,” the Brazilian World Cup winner told CNN’s Patrick Snell ahead of Barcelona’s 1-0 friendly win at English Premier League side Leicester City. “I think here I have all the conditions to play good football and fit in.” Ronaldinho, who regards Barcelona as “the best sports club in the world,” aims to halt its run of disappointing results in domestic and European competition in recent seasons. Despite serious investment Barca has failed to compete at the highest level, particularly with bitter rival Real Madrid, and hasn’t won the Spanish title since 1999. Last season the club finished sixth in Spain’s Liga and had to settle for a place in the UEFA Cup after missing out on Champions League qualification. “Barcelona has to become a successful club again,” Ronaldinho said. “Over the last couple of seasons the club has not lived up to their expectations so we aim to change that this season.” Ronaldinho is not the only new arrival at the Nou Camp this season. The club may not have David Beckham, as club president Joan Laporta promised on his way to being elected in June, but the flamboyant lawyer has also brought in former Dutch star Frank Rijkaard in place of Radomir Antic as coach. “He is a great coach,” said Ronaldinho. “Of course he was a fantastic player, but he has shown in his first few weeks here that he has a lot of quality.” Rijkaard is delighted with his new recruit. “In the first place he’s very special; because he’s extremely popular all over the world. Kids love him. People love him. People love to see him play and that’s something special,” said Rijkaard. “On the other hand he’s one of our team players and he can be really important because you have certain players during the game who are really unpredictable, and it can be decisive for all of us.” Against Leicester, Ronaldinho showed plenty of the skills that have made him one of the hottest properties in Europe, setting up the only goal of the game for Javier Saviola and receiving a standing ovation. “Brazilian players are always something special so hopefully he fits in well in our team,” said Dutch teammate Marc Overmars. “He can help us win matches. Everybody knows he’s got different quality and hopefully he’ll do well and everybody’s happy.” Ronaldinho is equally impressed by his new teammates. “They are all great players who are known throughout the world so it’s great to be part of a team with so many stars,” he said. For Ronaldinho and his new team, the true test only begins at the end of August when their Liga campaign gets underway at Athletico Bilbao. Meanwhile Manchester United prepares for the start of the English Premier League this weekend, perhaps still wondering what might have been.
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