Fans flock to welcome Ronaldinho

Brazilian star Ronaldinho was greeted by more than 20,000 fans at his unveiling at new club Flamengo.

The former World Player of the Year has joined the Brazilian Serie A club from Italian powerhouse AC Milan and was given the number 10 shirt at the presentation on Thursday.

Ronaldinho was delighted with the fans reception and said he hoped he could repay the adulation on the pitch.

“I hope I can give back all your affection on the pitch. Thank you for your that,” Ronaldinho said.

“Let’s go, black-and-red nation, we are together. I am on your side, I am now Flamengo.”

Ronaldinho, 30, hopes a return to regular club football in his home country will help his future with the national team, with Brazil to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

A desire to help his nation with a sixth World Cup – in front of the nation’s fans – was a driving factor in his decision.

“I decided to come to Brazil because of that,” he said.

“Many times I thought of coming back to Brazil to finish my career. After all that happened – with the possibility of playing in an Olympics and a World Cup, and after many years abroad – everything motivated me to return.”

“And I want to get back into the national squad and stay there until the World Cup.”

The attacker hopes to replicate the feats of Zico, who became a legend for the club: “(I signed) because of the club’s history, because of all the players who wore this jersey, because of Zico, who is and was always my biggest idol,” he said.

Ronaldinho will make his Flamengo bow in the state championships, starting in January.

Redemption on Bruce´s mind

Steve Bruce wants to avenge the worst day of his managerial career when Sunderland face Newcastle for the first time since their 5-1 thrashing.

That October day at St James’ Park in the English Premier League – when his in-form side were utterly blown away by the Tynesiders – will be etched in Bruce’s memory forever, but this Sunday he hopes will begin the road to redemption.

“I’ve been counting the days for this game to come around,” he admitted. “We were awful at their place.”

“Too many of our players didn’t turn up. We’re a young side and the occasion got to them but we’ll be better this weekend I promise you that – we couldn’t be any worse.”

“I’ll never forget it. Nothing can be anything worse than that. We’ll try to eradicate it, but unless we win 5-1, it’ll still be there because I lost a derby 5-1.”

Bruce will welcome back Nedum Onuoha for the game, with the on-loan Manchester City right-back having recovered from the hamstring injury which ruled him out of the last three games.

He will go straight back in the side, but the game looks to have come too soon for Danny Welbeck (hamstring) and Lee Cattermole (back).

“In an ideal world we’d both be meeting each other with our strongest squads,” Bruce said.

“It would have been great for us to have had a full-strength central midfield of David Meyler and Lee Cattermole had they been fully fit.”

Leicester announce Yakubu coup

Championship side Leicester City have confirmed the capture of Everton striker Yakubu until the end of the season.

The Nigeria striker will link up with Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men at the Walkers Stadium on-loan and will be a key signing in the 12th-placed Foxes’ promotion push.

Eriksson believes the signing will be ‘tremendous’ for the club and is expecting big things from the former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough frontman.

“Yakubu is a tremendous signing for Leicester City. He will bring pace, power and experience to the club,” Eriksson told the club’s official website.

“He has captained his country, played in major competitions and is a first-class footballer, who I am certain will help us to achieve our aims of moving up the Championship.”

“We are delighted that he is joining us until the end of the season and I’m sure that the supporters will enjoy watching him in action.”

Yakubu declared the opportunity to work with Eriksson made his decision to drop down a division an easy one.

“It means a lot to me to be joining Leicester City and to be given this chance,” Yakubu said.

“When I had the option to come here, I didn’t think twice. The manager is one of the greats in football history and to work with him presents a special opportunity for me.”

Yakubu joined Everton for over 11.25 million pounds in 2007 but has struggled with injury and fitness at the Merseyside club.

He has made just eight English Premier League starts for one goal this season and, with Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford preferred by David Moyes, he sought first-team football elsewhere.