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Ronaldo still on sidelines as Brazil season starts

Ronaldo, who joined Corinthians in a shock move last month, is still struggling to regain match fitness after recovering from a long-term knee injury he suffered last February.

The 32-year-old, who previously played for AC Milan and is determined to resurrect his career which has been in freefall since the 2006 World Cup, has not yet set a date for his debut.

"It's best not to make a prediction," he said at the weekend. "I don't want to go onto the pitch overweight with different strength in each leg. I have to be 100 percent ready."

"The improvement has been very good in the last 15 days and in a short time I will be on the pitch, where I belong," he added.

Once he is fit, Ronaldo's presence could galvanise the Brazilian game which is sadly devoid of big names.

Former Barcelona midfielder Giovanni, 37, and ex-Werder Bremen defender Junior Baiano, 39, who both played in Brazil's 1998 World Cup team, will be appearing for unfashionable Mogi Mirim and Volta Redonda respectively.

Marcos, goalkeeper in Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning team will play for Palmeiras at the age of 35 while Viola, a striker in the 1994 squad, will turn out for modest Resende at the age of 40.