Ronaldinho's Serie C Adventure with Ravenna Begins

Ronaldinho will make his first official appearance for Ravenna in the Serie C derby against neighbouring club Forlì on November 15. The match will kick off at 17:30 local time at the Stadio Bruno Benelli. The 46-year-old Brazilian will play in an official match for the first time since leaving Fluminense in 2015.

The club announced Ronaldinho's signing in June. He was then presented in Miami and met fans in August at a seaside event in Marina di Ravenna, attended by around 6,000 supporters. The former Ballon d'Or winner also holds a minority stake in the club.

The club traces its origins back to 1913. Ravenna spent several seasons in Serie B during the 1990s and 2000s. After going bankrupt in 2012, the club climbed back up from the amateur leagues to reach Serie C. Its president is Ignazio Cipriani, and its head coach is Andrea Mandorlini, a well-known figure in the region.

Ravenna is not hiding its Serie B ambitions. The team sits second in Group B with 20 points from 10 matches. league leaders Spezia have opened an 8-point gap. The group winners go directly up to Serie B, while the other top-placed teams enter the play-offs.

Forlì are 14th in the table. It remains to be seen how many minutes Mandorlini will give Ronaldinho on the pitch. The derby is expected to be the most-watched match in Serie C history.