Did Okocha really teach Ronaldinho tricks? The truth revealed

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Former Super Eagles star and Paris Saint-Germain legend Jay-Jay Okocha has opened up about his relationship with Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho and the role he played during their time together at PSG.

There has long been a myth among Nigerian football fans that Okocha taught Ronaldinho the dazzling skills that made him one of the most talented footballers of his generation.

However, Okocha has clarified the situation, reflecting on his influence on the Brazilian star.

“Well, I don’t know how to teach him tricks,” Okocha said. “But if you have a similar experience, sometimes you do things in training that you don’t know anyone is emulating.

We had a very good relationship and we still do.”

Ronaldinho joined PSG in 2001 when he was 20, marking his first spell in Europe after leaving Grêmio in Brazil. Okocha revealed that he could relate to young Ronaldinho’s struggles at the time.

“PSG was his first club outside of Brazil when he was 20 years old, so in it I could see my humble beginnings in Europe.

He was struggling to adapt; I couldn’t speak the language and I wasn’t really playing,” Okocha explained.

The Nigerian star took the budding talent under his wing and offered him advice and support during that period.

“I welcomed him and advised him. That all worked and it seemed like I was mentoring him, but his talent was obvious for everyone to see.

Maybe he also chose a couple of things from me, but I can also say that I admired his talent,” he added.

Although Okocha denies teaching Ronaldinho his football skills, their time together at PSG remains a testament to the bond they shared and how a little guidance can make all the difference in a player’s career.