Ronaldinho exalts Xavi’s Barça, hopes Mbappé chooses ‘happiness’
Barcelona, Spain Apr 5 (EFE).- Kylian Mbappé should prioritize his happiness wherever he ends up after Paris Saint-Germain, football legend Ronaldinho said Tuesday while also praising the turnaround achieved by FC Barcelona this season under the leadership of Xavi Hernández.
“I want him to be happy, no matter where he goes,” Ronaldinho, the former Barça and PSG player, said during a visit to Barcelona.
“He plays for one of the biggest clubs and what matters is that he is happy. He is a great person,” the 2002 World Cup winner with Brazil added.
The world of football is holding its breath in anticipation of a possible move by Mbappé to LaLiga giants Real Madrid this summer once the 23-year-old’s contract with the Qatari-owned French club expires at the end of the season.
Ronaldinho, who was in Barcelona to inaugurate his partnership with MetaSoccer, an NFT-focused football metaverse app, heaped praise on Barça, who have turned things around this season under Xavi, with whom he won the Champions League and three LaLiga titles to launch a golden era for the club.
“This Barça team reminds me of the Barça of my era, I hope they can do as well as we did,” the Brazilian, who plied his trade with the Blaugrana between 2003-08, said.
“I am very happy for Xavi, for everything he is doing, I hope that he continues doing well and continues to bring joy to Barça fans.
“In my opinion, it is the best club in the world, very few players have the opportunity to play in a club like Barça,” he said. “LaLiga and Barca are two things every player would like to experience.”
Ronaldinho, now 42, was stumped when asked who his favorite player was at the moment.
“I like to watch Leo (Messi), Neymar and Mbappé. Whenever they are playing, I like to watch the game,” he said, before admitting that he leans toward Messi, with whom he also shared a locker room in Barcelona.
“I was surprised when he left Barça,” he remarked. “But he is a great friend and the most important thing is that he is happy.”
Ronaldinho is the first professional player to sign up with MetaSoccer, an entire soccer universe developed on the blockchain. EFE
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