RONALDINHO IN OLYMPICS ROW WITH BARCA

• zocoss

  8 Jul 08, 16:09

  

   

  Brazil's strong Olympic squad will include Ronaldinho, Robinho and Alexandre Pato, as well as Premier League triumvirate Jo, Lucas and Anderson. 

  With Argentina stating their intent to win the gold medal by including Lionel Messi, Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero and their great South American rivals have showed they are equally set on winning the tournament.

  Of their attacking superstars only Kaka, who Milan insisted rest during the summer, is missing from the squad and Robinho and Pato are likely to thrill spectators in Beijing.

  The inclusion of three Premier League sides is unlikely to go down well, especially new Manchester City boss Mark Hughes who will be without Jo for at least the first two weeks of the campaign.

   

   

  Goalkeepers: Diego Alves (Almeria), Renan (Internacional).

  
  Defenders: Ilsinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Rafinha (Shalke), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Alex Silva (Sao Paulo), Breno (Bayern Munich), Thiago Silva (Fluminense).

  
  Midfielders: Anderson (Manchester United), Diego (Werder Bremen); Hernanes (Sao Paulo), Lucas (Liverpool), Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona), Thiago Neves (Fluminense).

  
  Forwards: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Jo (Manchester City), Rafael Sobis (Real Betis), Robinho (Real Madrid).

   

• gunner77

  8 Jul 08, 16:44

  ronaldino still can run ah ?

• zocoss

  9 Jul 08, 11:19

  RONALDINHO IN OLYMPICS ROW WITH BARCA

  

  
  

  Barcelona appear ready to prevent Ronaldinho from playing for Brazil at the Olympics after insisting on Tuesday they expect the playmaker to report for pre-season training next week.

  Ronaldinho was named as an overage player in Dunga's squad for the Olympics on Tuesday and has previously stated his desire to play in Beijing.

  It was assumed, given Barcelona's revelation that they are open to offers for a player no longer in their plans, that they would not stop him from playing if he had not already been sold by the time the tournament begins in August.

  However, a statement posted on Barcelona's website on Tuesday said the club expected the 28-year-old to report for training on Monday. "FC Barcelona announce that Ronaldinho will be expected to report for training on the July 14," the statement said.

  "The Olympics do not form part of the official FIFA calendar, and no official decision has ever been made in that respect, so the club is under no obligation to allow its player to travel.

  "In recent weeks, technical secretary Txiki Beguiristain has reiterated that Barca's objective has always been to have as many players as possible ready in time for the Champions League qualifying games."