THE domestic arrangements of Brazilian legend Ronaldinho have been the talk of the steamie in South America this week, especially in neighbouring Peru.
The former Barcelona player has been forced to publicly deny rumours that he is about to have a triple marriage to his current cohabitants Priscilla Coelho and Beatriz Souza, who he shares his mansion in Rio de Janeiro with, even though polygamy is legal in Brazil.
"It's the biggest lie,” the 38-year-old told television station GloboEsporte. “I do not know where that came from. Everybody has linked me with that and it's a lie. I'm not going to get married."
So that’s the record set straight. But what are the chances of a top international footballer being shacked up with more than one woman? It would never happen in Scotland. Er . . . .
PEDRO Gallese, the Veracruz goalkeeper who is expected to be an important player for Peru in the Russia 2018 finals next month, has had his preparations for the World Cup disrupted somewhat.
Rayza Zegarra, his former partner, last week requested that he be prevented from leaving the country at the Second Court of Family Law of Chiclayo until he underwent a paternity test.
It is a move that is certain to result in a backlash from Zegarra’s compatriots. But it has certainly had the desired effect.
“My residence out of the country and the work I have been doing in the national soccer team has made it an impossibility to carry out the test previously,” said Gallese in a statement last week. "But I will perform the DNA analysis requested by the competent authority.”
He finally complied in the city of Chiclayo on Friday. A nation holds its breath as they await the results.
EDISON Flores, the Peru winger, will be in a difficult situation is he is included in Ricardo Gareca’s final squad for Russia 2018 finals.
He plays his club football for Aalborg in Denmark – who La Blanquirroja are scheduled to face in their opening Group C match in the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 15.
“Orejas”, which means “Big Ears” in English, has become a popular player for the club managed by former Celtic midfielder Morten Wieghorst since signing for them two years ago.
But his relationship with the Aalborg supporters will be jeopardised if Peru win their first game at the World Cup. “They have warned me that if we beat them I’d better not come back,” said Flores.
PERUVIAN businesses have certainly embraced the widespread excitement surrounding the national team’s imminent appearance at the World Cup finals.
A survey by the international consultancy firm Mercer has shown that 10 per cent of them are prepared to give their workers the day off when they play Denmark, France and Australia while 57 per cent will allow fans to watch the matches if they agree to recover the hours at a later date.
Read more: 50 stories that made the season: Play-off brawls, stadium debates and madcap Mexicans
Better still, some 32 per cent of companies polled admitted they would be prepared to give their employees the following morning off to recover from their celebrations if the “Two Colour” triumph.
PETER Grant, the Scotland assistant coach, was asked if he had ever been to South America before when he spoke to the media in Peru last week.
He confirmed it was his first visit to the continent, before adding: “I have tried to see if I have any Argentinian background before.”
Grant was a fine servant to Celtic for 15 years, but no Hoops supporter ever mistook him for Mario Kempes.
THE ban that Paolo Guerrero, Peru’s all-time record goalscorer, has been hit with after testing positive for cocaine use, has provoked widespread sympathy in the game.
The captains of Australia, Denmark and France, who Peru will face at Russia 2018, have written to FIFA asking them to allow him to play at the World Cup.
The 34-year-old is adamant that he ingested the drug unknowingly and that a cup of tea that he drank was spiked.
Guerrero has also attracted the support of one former player who suffered the same fate in the past – Diego Maradona.
The Argentinian was sent home from USA ’94 after testing positive for ephedrine he claims was a result of a power drink called Rip Fuel he was given by his personal trainer.
Maradona also battled cocaine addiction later in his life and he believes “Predator” should be offered support, not punished.
“I had an illness, and nobody took pity on me,” he said. “FIFA doctors are there to collect your salary. This has to end.”
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