Last season he spent several matches on the bench early on after failing to impress coach Frank Rijkaard with his form in training.
A failure to recover form in the second half of the season, combined with a series of unspecified injuries and reports of indiscipline only served to further tarnish his image.
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Barcelona have won themselves a reputation for a Saturn-like habit of devouring their own sons; Maradona, Bernd Schuster, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo were all lauded as heroes but ended their careers at the Nou Camp unhappily.
Ronaldinho joined Barca as a toothy-grinned wizard who had the club under his spell for three glorious seasons. He will leave a rather forlorn figure. Whether his magic has been exhausted or he just needs a new challenge remains to be seen.
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