Fans want Ronaldinho kicked out

RIO DE JANIERO – Little more than a year after being hailed as Flamengo’s savior, supporters of Brazil’s biggest club want Ronaldinho out.An emphatic 83 percent of respondents to a poll conducted by popular soccer website Lancenet said the former Barcelona and AC Milan star should be sold by the club. It follows a string of poor performances, culminating in Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat by Ecuador’s Emelec that has left Flamengo facing almost certain elimination from the Copa Libertadores.Ronaldinho, whose monthly wage is a reported 700,000 US dollars, has looked a shadow of the player that once enchanted world soccer. In 13 games so far this season, he has scored just two goals from open play. Compounding matters are constant rumors about the 32-year-old’s night-time escapades and lack of commitment to training. The playmaker has reportedly already missed 10 training sessions this year, fueling rumors of favoritism by coach Joel Santana.Wednesday’s loss to Emelec has caused fans and local media to finally lose their patience. Three of Rio de Janeiro’s daily newspapers dedicated their front pages on Friday to the Ronaldinho crisis.Meia-hora published a photo of a smiling Ronaldinho with the headline “he has no shame” while the Brazilian edition of Marca labeled him Judas for committing an “Easter betrayal.”Fans also showed their disapproval by pelting the team bus on Friday with eggs and popcorn.

Sports

Fans want Ronaldinho kicked out