Report: Ronaldinho will play in USA this year (in Florida Cup)

The rumor mill gets a bad rap, especially with regard to Ronaldinho - for whom each week seems to bring a fresh, unfulfilled, rumor. But with the inevitability of a stopped clock, the rumor mill does occasionally get things right.

Back in October, it was reported that Ronaldinho would be playing for former club Fluminense in Florida Cup: a friendly tournament staged in January. Now, it is reported that 'Dinho will indeed be making the rumor come true: he confirmed his participation in Florida Cup on his Facebook page.

He'll be pulling on the Fluminense shirt; the club is scheduled to play Shakhtar Donetsk on January 17 and Internacional on January 20. If you're in Orlando (for the Shakhtar game) or Fort Lauderdale (for the Internacional match) - check him out.

Once A Metro continues to hope that 'Dinho might be persuaded to give soccer in the USA more of a chance than that afforded by Florida Cup. But at least he's starting the year on American soil.

Fluminense has been careful to emphasize that 'Dinho's appearance is a contractually-agreed exhibition stint and does not signal any long-term plan for him to return to the club. Still, whatever brief amount of time he does play for his old team while in Florida will function as a shop window of sorts. America is an oft-cited potential destination for 'Dinho - who will turn 36 in March - and we can expect his appearances later this month to renew the rumor mill's enthusiasm for stories linking the legendary Brazilian to US clubs.

Welcome to the USA, 'Dinho. Welcome back, inevitable Dinho-to-America rumors.