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fall from grace

Journeyman: Now Ronaldinho has title aim with Atletico Mineiro

Having fallen out with Flamengo over a cool $20M, the fallen idol is heading for the hills.

STAYING AT FLAMENGO was always going to be difficult for Ronaldinho.

Especially when you consider he is suing the club for a reported $20 million in unpaid wages.

A week on from his falling out with the Rio giants, the one-time best player in the world has found a new home with Atletico Mineiro.

The club, situated in the mountainous city of Belo Horizonte, have given the former Barcelona man a contract until the end of 2012.

However, the wages offered will be much lower than Ronaldinho enjoyed on his initial return home.

“I can’t talk about his salary,” Atletico president Alexandre Kalil told Sports Illustrated. “But Atletico will be able to pay for it by itself, we won’t need the help of a partner.”

Now 32, Ronaldinho insisted that he remains fully committed to a life of football  and will do his utmost to help Atletico achieve success:

“I returned to Brazil to win titles and now I’m having a new opportunity,” he said at a press conference. “I’m arriving at the club to give my best and to try to help Atletico win titles. I’m motivated and focused on doing my best. I feel like I still have many good years left in my career.”

Rather than watch his career peter out, we would rather remember him in his prime. Like when he did this.

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