Atletico Mineiro fans create petition to keep Ronaldinho

 Atletico Mineiro fans create petition to keep Ronaldinho

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Fans of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro have begun an online petition in a bid to convince Ronaldinho to remain at the club in 2013.

The petition had already attracted more than 5000 signatories on Monday night, just hours after being created.

Ronaldinho has been in sublime¹ form since joining the Belo Horizonte club in June following his acrimonious² departure from Flamengo, who he is suing for unpaid³ wages and moral damages.

His contract expires next month but Atletico officials have expressed their interest keeping the former Barcelona and AC Milan star next season.

Ronaldinho has been strongly linked with a move to Fluminense, due largely to his desire to live in Rio.

There have also been rumors⁴ of a possible return to Europe as he attempts to win back his place in Brazil' s national team ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

Atletico Mineiro fan Samuel Peixoto Silveira, who was the petition' s 534th signatory, said he hoped Ronaldinho recognized supporters of the club had backed him through the good and bad times this season.

"Ronaldinho has to stay. Atletico Mineiro needs him and he needs Atletico Mineiro," Peixoto said.

Ronaldinho has led Atletico Mineiro to second in Brazil' s top-flight standings this year after finishing 15th last season.

With just four matches remaining, the club has already booked a berth⁵ in next year' s Copa Libertadores, South America' s most prestigious⁶ club competition.

1 sublime   

adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的

参考例句：

• We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
• Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。

2 acrimonious   

adj.严厉的，辛辣的，刻毒的

参考例句：

• He had an acrimonious quarrel with his girlfriend yesterday.昨天他跟他的女朋友激烈争吵了一番。
• His parents went through an acrimonious divorce.他的父母在激烈吵吵闹闹中离了婚。

3 unpaid   

adj.未付款的，无报酬的

参考例句：

• Doctors work excessive unpaid overtime.医生过度加班却无报酬。
• He's doing a month's unpaid work experience with an engineering firm.他正在一家工程公司无偿工作一个月以获得工作经验。

4 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

6 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。