National coach: Ronaldinho better off in Brazil

National coach: Ronaldinho better off in Brazil

Published Jan. 12, 2011 2:38 p.m. ET

Brazil coach Mano Menezes says Ronaldinho's return to Brazilian soccer will improve the player's chances of staying on the national team.

Menezes says Ronaldinho will have ''more proximity to the national team'' by playing with popular Brazilian club Flamengo.

The coach says stars such as Ronaldinho can be ''observed more closely'' if they are playing in Brazil instead of abroad.

Ronaldinho ended a 10-year stint in European soccer by transferring from AC Milan to Flamengo on Monday. The two-time FIFA player of the year said his goal was to play in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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He was not called up for the national team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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