Brazilian Legend Ronaldinho Offers To Play For Tragic-Hit Chapecoense For Free

Footballing legend Ronaldinho has reportedly offered to come out of retirement to play for Chapecoense as the club rebuilds itself from a plane crash that killed a majority of their squad, coaches and staff.

Despite the appeals from the club and other teams, Chapecoense’s acting president confirmed that the Brazilian Football Confederation had ordered Chapecoense to fulfil their playing obligations and play their final match using junior players.

According to reports, Ronaldinho’s agent and brother Roberto Assis told Globo Esporte that the former Barcelona player is “ready to help”.

[caption id="attachment_2393" align="alignnone" width="3506"]Image: Wikimedia Ronaldinho with Brazilian president Lula at Wembley Stadium, London[/caption]

Alongside Ronaldinho, former Argentinian footballer Juan Roman Riqeulme has also offered to play for free.

The news come after a string of heartwarming responses from the footballing world to the tragic plane crash that struck the Brazilian football team.

Earlier this week, five of Brazil’s top teams offered to loan players for free while requesting that the club be exempted from relegation for three seasons.

Atletico Nacional, the team that was meant to play Chapecoense in the Copa Sudamerica finals, also delivered a moving tribute in response to the tragedy, while officially requesting that the latter be named champions for the tournament.

Brazilian Clubs Offer To Loan Players To Chapecoense For Free, Restores Faith in Humanity

Brazil’s top clubs have signed a pledge to assist the rebuilding of tragic-hit Chapecoense, following a horrific plane crash that left 71 people dead.

The directors of Coritiba, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Portuguesa, Santos and Sao Paulo have since pledged to assist Chapecoense through a series of ‘solidarity measures’.

Some of the terms include a free loan of players for the 2017 season and a formal request to exempt the club from relegation for the next three seasons.

In the event that Chapecoense finishes in the bottom three, the 16th-placed team will be relegated instead.

It’s particularly heartening, given that Portuguese, one of the five, are struggling themselves having been regelated four times in the last four seasons.

Atletico Nacional, the team that was meant to play Chapecoense in the Copa Sudamerica finals, has also delivered a moving tribute in response to the tragedy, while officially requesting that the latter be named champions for the tournament.

“We’re waiting for the decision that CONMEBOL takes. The officials will talk but we want them to declare [Chapecoense] as champions,” said Atletico player Gilberto Garcia.

The video below is the live tribute by Atletico Nacional.