Ronaldinho will know where to celebrate if Barcelona wins the European Champions League title.
There are not many nightclubs in Paris he hasn’t patronised.
Ronaldinho spent a drama-packed two years in the French capital before leaving Paris Saint-Germain to join Barcelona for â,¬25-million after the 2002-2003 season.
”Paris is like coming back home,” Ronaldinho told sports daily L’Equipe in a recent interview.
”As soon as I get to the airport, I know where I am, where to go,” he added.
”I know the language, I know people here, the good restaurants. I love Paris.”
Ronaldinho leads Barcelona’s bid to win its second European Cup title, against Thierry Henry’s Arsenal on Wednesday.
Ronaldinho’s time at PSG was punctuated by brilliant goals, a verbal row with the coach, and his open love of long Parisian nights where he confessed to often dancing the night away — sometimes at the expense of next morning’s training.
”I don’t get much time to come back to Paris,” Ronaldinho said.
”But as soon as I get a moment, it’s the first city I want to visit.”
Ronaldinho played his last match for PSG at Stade de France — a French Cup loss against Auxerre in May 2003.
He returned to play there for Brazil in a 0-0 draw against France in May, 2004 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fifa.
”It is a beautiful stadium with a lovely atmosphere,” Ronaldinho said.
He scored 17 league goals for PSG in 55 matches and became the chief tormentor of rival Marseille. One goal against Guingamp during the 2002/03 season bore the Ronaldinho trademark.
Collecting the ball in midfield, he touched it past one defender, accelerated past another, stepped over the ball outside the penalty area, cut inside another marker, and then buried the ball into the top corner.
”I have always loved dribbling,” he said after collecting the Golden Ball award. ”I learned in my house, when I used to kick the ball against the wall and took on my dog in the garden.”
Ronaldinho’s fondness for parties — a particular favourite was midweek Latin music nights at the swanky Montecristo club on the famed Champs-Elysees — led to a feud with coach Luis Fernandez.
Furious that Ronaldinho missed training, he benched him for three straight games and then substituted him in the following match at Nantes.
Ronaldinho snapped, his familiar toothy grin turned into a snarl, and he wagged his finger and shouted insults at Fernandez — in perfect French — as he returned to the bench.
”Nothing has changed about my game … except that I play more games now,” Ronaldinho said, jokingly reflecting on his spat with Fernandez. ”I didn’t play every match for PSG, and playing is what I love the most.” – Sapa-AP