Rio de Janeiro, June 5 (IANS) Ronaldinho has signed up with Atletico Mineiro four days after quitting rival Brazilian football club Flamengo.
Athletico Mineiro confirmed Monday they had signed on the 32-year-old on a one-season contract for an undisclosed fee.
He trained with the team Monday afternoon and is expected to make his first appearance for the club in Wednesday's Brazilian Serie A championship match against Bahia.
"I returned to Brazil to win titles and now I have a new opportunity," Ronaldinho said at a press conference in the city of Belo Horizonte.
"I am motivated and focused on doing my best. I feel like I still have many good years left in my career," he said.
The two-time FIFA world player of the year sought a court injunction in Rio last Thursday to end his contract with Flamengo.
He also revealed plans to sue the club for reportedly $20 million in unpaid wages and bonuses, Xinhua reported.
"What happened with Flamengo is in the past. Now it is a new phase in my career and my future is with Atletico," the former Barcelona and AC Milan star added.
Atletico Mineiro have not won a major trophy since 1997 and have just one top-flight league title to their name in 1971.
The club's president Alexandre Kalil refused to disclose Ronaldinho's salary.
"I can't talk about his salary," Kalil said. "But Atletico will be able to pay for it by themselves. We won't need the help of a partner. He is not just any player, he is Ronaldinho. I have a reputation as a madman but I am not mad enough to turn down the chance to sign Ronaldinho," he said.
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