Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Ronie paid price for lifestyle – Xavi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 08 - 2008

Brazilian forward Ronaldinho paid the price for his off-field lifestyle at Barcelona, according to former team mate Xavi.
“Ronie has always led the same sort of lifestyle,” the Spain midfielder told Marca in an interview published on Monday. “He always told us: ‘that's the way I am'. “When you lead that sort of life you have to understand that when your level drops then the knives will be out. He is like that, he likes going out and enjoying life.
“He was full of life ever since he arrived and that's how he won two leagues and a Champions League.” Despite his successes in his first three seasons at the club, Ronaldinho attracted heavy criticism when his performances dropped off and his fitness flagged.
Throughout last season there were reports that Barca wanted to sell him off and the 28-year-old finally moved to AC Milan for a fee up to 25 million euros ($37.27 million) in July.
“He has his own private life that should not be interfered with, but it is true that that private life also affects his sporting performances,” said Xavi.
“Ronie went from being an idol for all Barcelona fans to being jeered and criticized and that hurts anyone.” Xavi said striker Samuel Eto'o, who has received a reprieve after being expected to leave the club in the close season, had learned from his mistakes.
“People think that he is unprofessional and a bad teammate as if he were some sort of time bomb waiting to explode in the dressing room, but he is nothing of the sort. He is an example of professionalism.
“He knows he has made a lot of mistakes, but he surprises me with the enthusiasm and sacrifice he makes in every game. He wants to be the best and he is.”
Xavi said discipline at the club had suffered in the latter stages of Frank Rijkaard's reign as coach, but said that new boss Pep Guardiola had managed to get the players back into line.
“They are two very different coaches,” he said. “Rijkaard believes in self-regulation but that is almost impossible in a team like Barcelona where the players earn a lot of money and win a lot of trophies.
“In all collective activities there has to be order and discipline and that is what Guardiola has imposed.... As a coach he knows what he wants and he has got some very clear ideas.”
Barca has been in impressive form in its pre-season matches and hold a comfortable 4-0 advantage after the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round match against Wisla Krakow.
It opens its Primera Liga campaign with a match away to promoted Numancia on the weekend of Aug. 30-31. - Reuters __


Clic here to read the story from its source.