Ronaldinho has not played competitively since September, when he parted ways with Fluminense. (Photo : Getty Images)
Brazilian legend Ronaldinho reportedly turned down a recent offer from English Premier League squad Leicester City FC as he is interested in accepting a huge offer to play in China this coming Chinese Super League season.
The CSL club that is allegedly keen on signing the 35-year-old two-time FIFA World Player of the Year awardee is yet to be named, though.
Ronaldinho, considered as one of the greatest footballer players of all time, is currently a free agent after terminating his one-and-a-half year contract with Brazilian Serie A team Fluminense FC after only two months of stay.
He reportedly admitted to Flu officials that "he wasn't being the player he felt he could be right now", according to Fluminense sporting director Mario Bittencourt, which the club honored. Ronaldinho has not played any professional or competitive football since then.
Xinhuanet reported that Ronaldinho was targeted by Claudio Ranieri's squad during the recently closed January transfer window, but he passed it up for the chance to play in China.
The report also said, citing Brazilian local media outlet Lancenet, that "R10 is close to signing with a Chinese club" but no further details were provided.
Ronaldinho is globally known for his accomplishments as a Brazil international, helping the country win the 1999 Copa America and 2002 FIFA World Cup, starring alongside fellow Brazilian legends Ronaldo and Rivaldo as one of the sports' greatest attacking trios.
He spent most of his club professional career with high-profile squads namely Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, and AC Milan. His five-season stint with Barça had been the most productive of his career as he appeared in a total of 207 games in all competitions and have scored 94 goals and assisted 69 times.
The 5-foot-11 Porto Alegre, Brazil native won both his FIFA World Player of the Year citations and Ballon d'Or trophy while playing for the Catalonia giants.
The Daily Express noted that the Foxes have moved on from their failure to land Ronaldinho, and has "enjoyed a successful January transfer window, landing Demarai Gray and Daniel Amartey while managing to keep hold of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez".
Leicester City, the EPL's current league leaders, presently dons a 14-2-8 win-loss-draw record and has 50 points in the domestic league, three points above closest pursuer Manchester City who has a 14-5-5 slate.
