Ravenna, a city renowned for Byzantine mosaics and Dante's tomb, is now buzzing with football fever as Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, 46, joins Serie C side Ravenna. The move, orchestrated by club president Ignazio Cipriani, aims to catapult the small club into global spotlight, with a target of 2,800 season tickets sold and ticket prices up by 12%.
Ronaldinho's Surprise Signing
On a scorching summer afternoon, four Ravenna supporters, Francesco Zannoni, Fabio Pagani, Giovanni Lama, and Marcello Lama, sat at a cafe, flipping through La Gazzetta dello Sport, expressing skepticism but also hope. "We haven't seen him yet," they said with dry irony. The signing, announced in Miami in June, was met with disbelief, but Cipriani insists it's no prank.
"Ronaldinho will wear the Ravenna shirt as a player, and he will try – maybe scoring the last goal of his career with us!" Cipriani said, emphasizing the genuine friendship that grew from meetings facilitated by Lorenzo Tonetti and Ariedo Braida, former AC Milan executives.
From Serie D to Serie C: A Rapid Rise
Cipriani, heir to the Harry's Bar hospitality dynasty and grandson of Raul Gardini, took over Ravenna in 2024 when they were in Serie D. Under his leadership, the club won the Serie D Cup and earned promotion to Serie C. But Cipriani's ambitions stretch further: "Serie A is the goal I declared from day one because I intend to reach it. And the Champions League remains the ultimate horizon."
The club has faced financial turmoil, with bankruptcies in 2001 and 2012, and has spent decades in lower tiers. Historically a volleyball stronghold, Ravenna's football scene was modest, but Ronaldinho's arrival has changed the narrative.
The Ronaldinho Effect
The "R10" branded special-edition shirt sold out within hours, highlighting the commercial impact. Cipriani sees Ronaldinho as a bridge between generations: "His way of playing made my generation fall in love with the game. We want him today to make the next generation of fans, in Italy and around the world, fall in love with Ravenna."
Mayor Alessandro Barattoni is equally enthusiastic: "Ronaldinho brings a whole new level of global fame. When the news broke, my phone exploded with messages from former schoolmates." He envisions Ronaldinho as a cultural ambassador, even offering to personally guide him through the city's heritage.
Stadium Renovation and Future Plans
The club is working with the municipality to renovate the Stadio Bruno Benelli, increasing capacity beyond 6,300. Cipriani dreams of a new multi-purpose venue with retail, concert facilities, and an integrated Hotel Cipriani, aligning with Ravenna's tourism expansion.
Ravenna has been strengthening international ties, highlighted by a recent visit from the British royal family and the opening of the Lord Byron Museum. Barattoni sees Ronaldinho fitting into this strategy: "Our common ground with the club is internationalisation: bringing Ravenna's image to the world."
Fan Reactions and Concerns
While many fans are excited, some traditional supporters in the Curva Mero are cautious. Fabio admitted: "There is a certain reluctance among some factions. Modern football pushes values that many don't share: rising ticket prices, losing accessibility for lower-income families."
Cipriani acknowledges these concerns: "Without roots, no global project makes sense. Ravenna is not a brand we are building from scratch; it's a history and an identity that existed before us. Tradition isn't a brake on ambition: it's the foundation."
Longtime fan Giovanni expressed renewed enthusiasm: "I'm 50 years old and I've been coming to the stadium since my school days. I'm rediscovering the enthusiasm of the past. If it takes an icon like Ronaldinho and a local entrepreneur to make us dream of Serie A, then so be it."
Looking Ahead
Ravenna awaits Ronaldinho's appearance on 20 August during a three-day summer festival in Marina di Ravenna, organized in Cipriani's signature style. The season-ticket campaign, launched with a target of 2,800 sales, reflects the club's growth ambitions.
As the city soaks up the "Ronaldinho Effect," the club is assembling a squad to win the league, with sights set on Serie A and beyond. Whether this is a brilliant marketing stunt or an extraordinary transfer, Ravenna is riding the wave, hoping the magic lasts.
