Ronaldo Expected To Be Greeted By 100 Transvestites At Rio Airport

Brazilian superstar Ronaldo, who scored a superb hat-trick as Corinthians beat Fluminense on Wednesday, is expected to be greeted by 100 transvestites when he arrives in Rio de Janeiro for the Brazilian league match between Corinthians and Flamengo on August 9.

Ronaldo is well known for being a lifelong fan of Flamengo, but relations between the player and the club diminished ever since he agreed to move to rivals Corinthians.

The Flamengo fans feel that they have been betrayed by Ronaldo, not only because he opted to join Corinthians instead, but because he stated the he doesn't believe Flamengo have the largest fan base in the country. According to reports, the Rio de Janeiro giants have 35 million followers.

"That about Flamengo having the most fans in Brazil isn't true. In those surveys there are lots of people from other states who choose Flamengo as their second team," claimed Ronaldo.

The marketing director of Flamengo, Ricardo Hinrichsen, responded to the 2002 World Cup winner by saying, "It is ridiculous, he only dreams of ignorance."

Because of Ronaldo's startling declarations, furious Flamengo fans have announced that they will protest against the player when the two sides meet for the Brasileiro.

The protests will begin once Ronaldo and the Corinthians delegation arrive at the Rio airport next month. What is planned is that 100 transvestites will appear in an attempt to embarrass the player.

Last year Ronaldo was caught in a motel with three transvestites; he had apparently confused them for women.

On the pitch, though, Ronaldo has been doing rather well. Goal.com's partners at partofthegame.tv offer video coverage of Corinthians' recent Brazilian Cup final victory over Internacional.

Gregory Sica, Goal.com

Talk all things soccer with the rest of our readers in the Goal.com Forums