Comeback kid

Soccer’s Ronaldinho set to feature in 2 Barça legends games in Israel

Former Brazilian superstar to reportedly join forces next week with other big names such as Rivaldo and Thierry Henry against Israeli veterans from Tel Aviv and Haifa

Ronaldinho, Brazilian former professional footballer, visits youngsters from Beitar Nordia Jerusalem at the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem on April 26, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Ronaldinho, Brazilian former professional footballer, visits youngsters from Beitar Nordia Jerusalem at the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem on April 26, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Brazilian legend Ronaldinho will join a host of former Barcelona stars when they play two exhibition soccer games in Israel next week, the Kan public broadcaster reported Wednesday.

Barcelona announced earlier this month that the team of former stars would take on Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa legends in the matches.

The Barcelona statement said that the team, coached by Albert Ferrer, would feature former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry for the first time, as well as former Brazil star Rivaldo.

Also in the squad are recently retired Bojan Krkic, along with Jesús Angoy, Xavi Guzmán, Frederic Dehu, Sergi Barjuan, Jon Andoni Goikoetxea, Juliano Belletti, Roberto Trashorras, Jofre Mateu and Ludovic Giuly.

While Ronaldinho, who has visited Israel several times, was not named in the statement, Kan said he would link up with the Barca Legends for the games at the Bloomfield and Sammy Ofer stadiums.

“I am really happy to return to Israel, I love the country and the people,” Kan quoted him as saying. “This time we will have a double experience with matches against the legends of the biggest teams in Israel and it will be a big celebration in spectacular stadiums and in front of tens of thousands of fans.”

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