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Ronaldinho signs with Fluminense

Sao Paulo - Fluminense has signed former Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho until the end of 2016.

The announcement came less than a month after Ronaldinho left Mexican club Queretaro, where he played only two tournaments. He had a year left in his contract but decided to leave after losing his spot in the starting line-up.

The 35-year-old Ronaldinho said he wanted to try to win the Brazilian league, which is one of the few tournaments he still hasn't won in his career.

"It was one of the things that motivated me to return to Brazil, to try to win a trophy that I still don't have," Ronaldinho said.

Official details of the deal with Fluminense were not immediately available, but local media said Ronaldinho will earn a monthly salary of more than $190 000, plus bonuses from the sales or jerseys and other club products.

Several clubs reportedly showed interest in signing Ronaldinho after he left Mexico, including teams in Turkey and the United States. Brazilian clubs also said they negotiated with the playmaker, and Fluminense's Rio de Janeiro rival Vasco da Gama recently announced that its deal with the midfielder was 90% completed.

"Fluminense was part of the 10% that kept other clubs from signing him," Fluminense said in a statement on its website.

Ronaldinho will be officially introduced to fans before the July 19 match against Vasco da Gama at the Maracana Stadium, but he will only begin training on July 27.


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