Paixao has known Ronaldinho for over ten years and said: "With more time to work on his fitness, Ronaldinho will again become the one that we all knew.

"He has great pride in himself and I am absolutely certain that he is going to work as hard as ever to get in top shape and return to be the world's best.

"He didn't have a break last season and needs that good preparation to help him handle the extra attention he gets from the opposition."