The Hindu : Ronaldinho passes physical test

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 21, 2003

Sport

Sport - Football

Ronaldinho passes physical test

Barcelona July 20. World Cup winner Ronaldinho passed his medical exam at FC Barcelona on Sunday, completing his 30 million euro ($33.8 million) transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

"Ronaldinho passed all the tests satisfactorily, with a good attitude, and he is in excellent physical condition," Barcelona team doctor Jordi Ardevol said, according to the FC Barcelona website.

The 23-year-old Brazilian, who signed a five-year contract on Saturday, ended a bidding war between Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid, and gives the struggling Catalan team the kind of high-profile player that President Joan Laporta promised when he campaigned for his new job.

Ronaldinho, whose real name is Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, becomes the latest in a list of illustrious Brazilians to play at Barcelona — Romario, Ronaldo and Rivaldo.

The deal is the latest in a series of summer acquisitions designed to rescue a team that flirted with relegation last season.

Laporta also signed Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber, Mexico's Rafael Marquez and Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport