Red tape halts Ronaldinho debut

Ronaldinho will make his debut for new club Atletico Mineiro in Sunday’s Campeonato Brasileiro clash with Palmeiras.

There was a chance that the Brazil international might be available for Wednesday’s meeting with Bahia in Belo Horizonte but the former Barcelona star was not registered in time by the Rio de Janeiro football federation.

However, Mineiro president Alexandre Kalis explained that Ronaldinho was aware that his debut was likely to be held up by red tape.

“We were expecting this from the Carioca Federation,” Kalis told Globoesporte.com.

“It’s not a major surprise; he knew he would not play.”

The 2002 World Cup winner has joined Mineiro on a contract until the end of the season, having being given permission to unilaterally rescind his deal with former club Flamengo last week because of a dispute over unpaid wages.