The UFC is a cut-throat business. Lose a few fights in a row and your time in the company could be over. Fail to get the fans on side or get a reaction from the audience, and you could see your contract terminated.
Ronaldinho’s love affair with a football isn’t over. The Brazilian icon, now 46, has put pen to paper on a deal with Ravenna, the Serie C outfit based in the north of Italy.
Whether he actually pulls on a shirt for a competitive fixture remains a different question entirely, and even the club’s own hierarchy can’t seem to agree on the answer.
News of the move broke via Gazzetta dello Sport, with the report revealing Ronaldinho will be officially unveiled at a glitzy event in Miami on the 23rd of June. The former Ballon d’Or winner was in a typically upbeat mood when discussing the move, and his words have only added to the excitement among fans hoping for one more glimpse of the magic.
The former Barcelona star named a very impressive XI of the finest British talents in history
Ronaldinho and Ravenna Confirm Stunning Capture
Ronaldinho playing for AC Milan at Fratton Park
“New colours, same smile.”
“I can’t wait to be able to dance on the ball again to write a new story together with Ignazio and the whole Cipriani family. Football has always been a source of joy for me, I want to bring the same spirit to Ravenna.”
Club owner Ignazio Cipriani, who split his time between Italy and a long stint living in the United States, couldn’t hide his excitement at landing one of his footballing heroes. “I spent 24 years of my life in the United States, but I still consider Ravenna my home. Acquiring Ronaldinho is something absolutely extraordinary for the club; he was my idol, and his impact on football goes beyond what he did on the pitch.”
Ronaldinho was convinced, but the player never managed to get his hands on the prize.
Mixed Messages Surrounding Ronaldinho’s Actual Role
Vice-president Ariedo Braida, who signed Ronaldinho for AC Milan in 2008, initially poured cold water on any playing involvement:
“Ronaldinho will do a marketing event with us but will not play for Ravenna in Serie C next season, also because he’s 46. I wish he could still play.”
Yet in a separate interview, Braida left the door open: “Ronaldinho is a timeless champion,” he said. “Will he play? We’ll see, but it’s not ruled out.”
The World Cup winner’s last competitive outing came for Fluminense in 2015, after a career spanning Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona and Milan, where he scored 26 goals in 95 games.
The US Open got underway on the 18th of June, with the best golfers battling it out for the glittering trophy and the glory that comes with it.
The 2026 US Open is the 126th edition of this fabled tournament, and it is hosting iconic names in Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and Scottie Scheffler at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
But there is one name who has notably missed out on the weekend’s action, and it is not the first time he hasn’t made the cut for a Major this year. In fact, it’s the third time in a row now.
Pamela Smith via Imagn Images
He has, however, won two Majors before, winning the 2020 and 2024 US Open and was part of the US team that won the Ryder Cup in 2021.
He was also tied for third in The Players Championship in 2021, and is known for his analytical approach to golf, having a successful amateur career where he won the NCAA Division I championship and the US Amateur in the same year. Winning the US Open meant that he was only the third player to have won those three championships, after golfing royalty Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
But Bryson DeChambeau’s fortunes seem to have run out as he has missed the cut for the 2026 US Open after struggling for form in the second round.
Bryson DeChambeau Misses US Open Cut
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The official cut line at the US Open this year was four-over, with all golfers who scored this or better all qualifying for the weekend. ‘The Scientist’, however, finished on the wrong side of the line with a score of five-over, and was sent packing, missing out on his third straight Major weekend, and fourth in his last five starts following abysmal results at The Masters and PGA Championship.
Shinnecock Hills plays host to the third Major of the 2026 golf season, and Jon Rahm has predicted how an amateur would cope around the course.
His despair will be further compounded by an Instagram post he made just a day before the tournament, with the 32-year-old posing with both thumbs up.
It is the caption, however, that renders the post now unfortunate and plain awkward.
Bryson DeChambeau’s Awkward Instagram Post
It read: “Like this post if you think I’m going to make the cut.”
Unsurprisingly, the comments didn’t hold back, and some were particularly brutal, with one fan commenting: “Like if Bryson missed the cut for the second year in a row.”
In hindsight, perhaps DeChambeau can see he was tempting fate and look at his post with a wry smile, using it as fuel for the fourth and final Major of the year, The Open Championship, in July. It is a moment that comes with humour and empathy in equal doses, as the cruel twist of reality so often does.
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The Californian will be forced to watch the remainder of the action in New York from the sidelines as his dream of a third US Open victory goes unfulfilled, but he’ll need to dust himself off and reset so that he can come back stronger and end his nightmare run of performances.
DeChambeau will be eagerly awaiting July’s Major so that he can prove he’s still a valiant competitor and hasn’t lost his touch around the course.
Tottenham Hotspur chiefs and Roberto De Zerbi disagree over the future of Luka Vuskovic following a third bid from Brighton and Hove Albion, according to former Spurs scout Mick Brown.
While Tottenham have been busy adding two new centre-backs to De Zerbi’s squad this summer in the form of Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, it has raised questions over the futures of others currently in the Spurs squad.
As things stand, the Italian coach has Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin, Senesi, Van Hecke and Vuskovic to pick from for two centre-back spots in his preferred formation.
You would expect that when the Van Hecke signing is confirmed and announced, that at least two of the aforementioned players could be leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Of those who were Tottenham players before the summer, Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso seem the most likely to be staying, even if the former has been linked with a move to Liverpool from reports in his homeland this week.
Question marks have been raised over the future of captain Romero for months, while Dragusin has been linked with a move away too.
Spurs fans may have been hoping to see more of Vuskovic following a successful loan spell with Hamburg last term, but instead he is the subject of strong interest from Brighton.
De Zerbi and Tottenham Chiefs Disagree Over Vuskovic
via Reuters
Brighton have just launched a third bid worth £45m for the Croatia international, having already seen two offers rejected by Spurs in recent days.
A difference in opinion is emerging between Tottenham chiefs and their Italian manager too, with Brown telling Football Insider that the 46-year-old is willing to let Vuskovic leave the club this summer.
However, he adds that Spurs officials ideally want to keep the highly-rated 19-year-old unless they can land a huge fee for him, with one report suggesting they want £70m, and would prefer another loan move for the Croatian if he is to go.
Brown said: “It looks like De Zerbi is happy to let Vuskovic leave this summer.
“But Tottenham don’t necessarily think the same, they brought him in as a young player who could develop and then become key for them long-term, rather than immediately.
“So he’s still very highly thought of, he was impressive on loan at Hamburg last year, and from what I’ve heard, they would have been open to letting him go on loan again.”
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De Zerbi Makes Vuskovic Stance Clear
via Reuters
De Zerbi hinted at his stance over younger players towards the end of the season when he favoured the likes of Joao Palhinha over Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, who had played big roles in Tottenham’s campaign up to that point.
The additions of Senesi and Van Hecke one again suggest the Italian is ready to go with the experienced options as he looks to lead Spurs back up the Premier League standings, which ultimately means that minutes will be limited for someone like Vuskovic, despite his potential.
While a loan move would probably suit Tottenham and De Zerbi, the player is clearly pushing for a permanent move where he knows he will be playing regularly.
Now it’s up to Brighton to submit an offer that will make Spurs consider selling a player they rate so highly.
