Ronaldo’s European Career Over?

By: chris | December 9th, 2008

Well, Ronny finally got a job today. But it’s not Milan or Man City or Sampdoria or even Siena. It’s Corinthians, a club with a big history but one fresh out of the doldrums of second-tier Brazilian footballer. Hardly the type of club you’d think would be in for the likes of Ronaldo. Injured and a bit past his prime, but as the old saying goes: form is temporary, class is permanent.

So this brings up the obvious question: is Ronaldo done in big time European football? Or could this just be a launching pad as he attempts to regain even a shred of the greatness he once had?

Given his injury history – four major, major problems – you’d have to think this is the end of Ronaldo at the highest level. His knees must aspire to bone-on-bone at this point, and though his pace hasn’t been a factor for a couple years, you’ve got to wonder how mobile he is anymore. Plus look at that picture. Yeah, he’s injured, but his weight issues have only been growing for years. Can’t imagine he’s going to look too svelte when the Brazilian Serie A kicks off.

Almost a sad day as, at only 32, one of the true greats from this generation has seemingly played his last game at the highest of high levels…or has he?

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Nicko

It's irrespective of how big or small a club are. Jo and ELano signed before city got megabucks anyway. My point is to say that city are on ly a "big" club because they got a rich middle eastern owner is farcicle. City are a massive club, one of the biggest in the world, irrelevent of who owns them.

And no, I'm not a Man City fan.
LorenzoRosanero

And to Italians, City is a small club. Point?
Nicko

No offence Lorenzo. I'm British, I live in Spain. Sampadoria are small fry here, City are a big club in britain. Fact.
bobby_digital

who gives a f##k which club is bigger... this is a good move for the greatest striker of our generation... he just needs to get back to playin competitively... the sooner the better.... i will always remember him during his dominant years... seriously during his barca and early inter days, there was never a player more dominant in football, ever.... he was a freak of nature and completely unstoppable...
LorenzoRosanero

Nicko - City isn't a joke to Robinho because some Arabs took over and paid him some monstrous $$$. He'd play in the horrid MLS if somebody paid him a ridiculous amount of money.

Sampdoria has had just as much success as City has had - and they've been around alot less in historical terms than City has. Do your homework, son, because only till these Arab owners came in to offer endless amounts of money, City wasn't considered "big time"...and that's no joke.
Nicko

Obviously city arn't a joke to Brazilian internationals like Robhinio, Jo and Elano....

However Sampadoria are small fry.
Thiago

Corinthians is the most important club in Brazil.
Siena and City is a big joke for us...
Now Ronaldo will find again your football... like Carlitos did.
michael

It’s like minor league baseball, great players come through, but only on their way to better competition and greener $$$$$$$$.
fwembt

Sorry Bruno, it's true. Corinthians is far behind Serie A, the EPL and most of Europe. Yes, Kaka and Pele may have come from Brazil, but both players spent their primes where the talent lies. That's just how it works. It's like minor league baseball, great players come through, but only on their way to better competition and greener pastures.
Laurie

For the record, the site's flag function is acting up and showing a lot of people as being in the US when they're not. Feel free to get incensed over other things, but not over this particular issue.
LorenzoRosanero

Let's put Siena and Corinthians to the test and see what happens...

Btw, Bruno, it says you're posting from the "US" as well. Alessio could probably run circles around you in footy knowledge. Just sayin...
Bruno Romani

true? I believe a league that has in its history names from Pele to Kaka (you name everybody else in between) can never be considered low in prestige. But yes, you cover soccer from the US. I don't expect you to know this, only what you see on TV.

Again, Siena is so small compared to Corinthians that it's not even funny.
Laurie

Sorry, dk. Yes, you're right. There is a certain irony in the photo.
Bruno Romani

prestige is lower in Brazil... right.
dk

I knew what match it happened to be from Laurie, just enjoying that the particular picture chosen from it allows readers to only view the word 'poverty' on a frame that won't have any worries of that nature anytime soon.
dylan

I've been away from the Corinthians blog for ages, shamefully, but there's no way I can let this story pass. Ronaldo is in the house at Corinthians Offside.
Laurie

DK, that's from the "Match on Poverty" that he played a few weeks back in Morocco. Friends of Ronaldo vs. Friends of Zidane. Ronaldo was on the pitch for all of about 20 minutes.
dk

I find it somewhat more ironic that the one clear word on his shirt is 'poverty'.
Laurie

Louis, mine says, "Need a fast Brazil visa?"

Between the two of us we have the story of Ronaldo.
Louis

I find it hilariously ironic, that the banner ad above this article reads "WHY IS YOUR STOMACH FAT?"
Bruno Romani

Honestly, Corinthians is way bigger than Man. City, Sampdoria and all these clubs.