Ronaldinho to make Atletico Mineiro debut against Palmeiras on Saturday

07-Jun-2012 4:45:00 AM

The former Ballon d'Or winner is in line to make his Galo bow, having joined his new side until the end of the season after securing his release from Flamengo last Friday

Ronaldinho will make his debut for new club Atletico Mineiro in Sunday's Brasileirao clash with Palmeiras.

There was a chance that the Brazil international might be available for Wednesday's meeting with Bahia in Belo Horizonte but the former Barcelona star was not registered in time by the Rio de Janeiro football federation.

However, Mineiro president Alexandre Kalis explained that Ronaldinho was unaware that his debut was likely to be held up by red tape.

"We were expecting this from the Carioca Federation," the Galo supremo told Globoesporte.com. "It's not a major surprise; he knew he would not play."

The 2002 World Cup winner has joined Mineiro on a contract until the end of the season, having being given persmission to unilaterally rescind his deal with former club Flamengo last week because of a dispute over unpaid wages.