Ronaldinho hoping for return to Brazil

Posted Saturday, August 06, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Former Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho is hoping his recent purple patch with Flamengo adds impetus to his effort to resurrect his career with the five-time World Cup winners.

"My objective is to do my best with Flamengo and if the coach needs me I will be ready," said Ronaldinho, who returned home in January 2011 after a two and a half year spell with Serie A giants AC Milan.

After missing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when then coach Dunga left him out of his 23-man travelling party, Ronaldinho believes he can still do a job for Mano Menezes's squad up to and including the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil are hosting.

Menezes, who replaced Dunga after the 2010 campaign, selected Ronaldinho for a friendly against Argentina in Doha last November but he has since been left out of squads for a string of friendlies and the Copa America last month.

But having scored a memorable hat-trick for Flamengo in a 5-4 win over league rivals Santos last month, the 31-year-old Ronaldinho is firmly back in the public domain—and wants Menezes to sit up and take notice.

"It's the moment I've been dreaming of (to return to the Brazil squad). Physically, I'm in top form," he added.

"From now until the World Cup a lot of things can happen, but I believe I can make a positive contribution to the national team."

Brazil's next game is a friendly against Germany in Stuttgart on August 10.