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Rediff.com  » Sports » Dunga wants old Ronaldinho back

Dunga wants old Ronaldinho back

March 09, 2007 13:16 IST
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Ronaldo was left out by Brazil again on Thursday when coach Dunga named his squad for this month's friendlies against Chile and Ghana in Sweden.

Ronaldinho, who has started only one match since the World Cup, was included but Dunga said he wanted to the former World Player of the Year to revert pre-Barcelona style of play.

Ronaldo, 30, has made a promising start at AC Milan after his 7.5 million euros move from Real Madrid, but his performances failed to persuade Dunga to call him up for the first time since the World Cup.

Dunga told reporters: "We are watching and observing him and as soon as his performances interest us and he is near to his best, he will be selected."

Dunga, who retired in 1999 with Internacional, said he wanted Ronaldinho to play as he did in the early days of his career.

Internacional and Gremio are bitter rivals in the southern city of Porto Alegre and Dunga was given a torrid time by Ronaldinho, then a teenager, when they were on opposite sides in a "Gre-Nal" derby.

"I would like to see Ronaldinho as he was with Gremio," Dunga said.

"I prefer him to float around and get lots of touches of the ball, rather than just staying on one side of the field, which is a characteristic he has acquired at Barcelona."

Dunga also brushed aside speculation that Ronaldinho was disillusioned at being left on the bench and was considering quitting Brazil.

"I don't believe he doesn't want to play for the national team," said Dunga. "That's not something I'm taking into consideration."

The squad included other regulars such as Kaka, Robinho, Diego, Elano and Gilberto Silva but there was no place for Inter Milan striker Adriano who has been picked only once by Dunga.

Uncapped right back Ilsinho and midfielder Josue, who play for Brazilian champions Sao Paulo, were also included.

Brazil have played six matches under Dunga, suffering their first defeat against Portugal last month.

They thrashed Chile 5-0 in their last meeting in a World Cup qualifier in Sept. 2005 and beat Ghana 3-0 in the second round at last year's World Cup.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Helton (Porto), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Ilsinho (Sao Paulo), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Kleber (Santos), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Alex Rodrigo (PSV Eindhoven), Juan (Bayer Leverkusen), Luisao (Benfica)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin), Dudu Cearense (CSKA Moscow), Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk), Josue (Sao Paulo), Diego (Werder Bremen), Kaka (AC Milan)

Forwards: Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Robinho (Real Madrid), Fred (Olympique Lyon), Rafael Sobis (Real Betis), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow)

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Source: REUTERS
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