It is a beautiful anecdote told by Ronaldinho. In an interview with CNEWS on the sidelines of the Champions League, the former glory of the round ball evoked a particular memory, that of his meeting with Raja de Casablanca during the Club World Cup in 2003 when he wore the colors of Atlético Mineiro.
He remembers it like it was yesterday. In December 2013, Ronaldinho, who played Atlético Mineiro, crossed swords with the Raja Casablanca team in the semi-final of the Club World Cup. A meeting that ended in defeat for the Brazilian team (3-1), despite a superb free kick he had scored.
One detail had particularly marked her, that of the admiration shown by the Moroccan public and the RCA players for her.
Indeed, at the end of the meeting, in the Grand Stade de Marrakech, several Casablancans came to surround him to pass him a word but also to ask him for a “little souvenir”. Everything went there: jersey, t-shirt, shoes and even his headband, which had particularly amused the former FC Barcelona player.
“Yes, of course, I remember that moment very well. We had lost but it was an incredible atmosphere. That day was a big football party. Raja (who lost in the final against Bayern Munich by Franck Ribéry, editor’s note) had earned his qualification. And in the end, several players came to see me. It had touched me enormously. That’s football too.” he told CNEWS.
Accustomed to Morocco, while he often takes part in the Gala match organized in Laâyoune on the occasion of the anniversary of the Green March, “Roonie” is full of praise for the Kingdom and the Moroccan people and claims to have been welcomed on each of his visits.
“Every time I have the opportunity to go there, I am welcomed and I play football there too. Morocco is a country that I have always appreciated. I have many Moroccan friends”he told CNEWS.
During his last visit to Morocco, Ronaldinho made an impression during the Gala match organized in Laâyoune on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of the Green March, arriving with only 6 euros in his bank account.
For now, the Brazilian football icon will attend the Real Madrid-Liverpool clash at the Stade de France on Saturday May 28 as part of an operation launched by Expedia “La route 10 du Freestyle Tour”, reports the same source.
.
