Ronaldinho, 46, brings his mission of love and goals to Serie C's Ravenna

It seemed like a joke, a hoax, when at 10pm on 19 June, Ravenna broke the news of Ronaldinho's signing, according to the Guardian. The Brazilian legend, now 46, was unveiled this week in the Emilia-Romagna city, pledging a mission of 'love and happiness – and maybe goals' at the Serie C club.

The Guardian reports that the unveiling was winning over initially disbelieving fans, who had struggled to accept that one of football's most celebrated playmakers would grace a third-tier Italian pitch. Ronaldinho's arrival has injected a rare dose of global attention into a league more accustomed to regional rivalries than international headlines.