“I was like his senior brother”-Jay Okocha opens up on relationship with ex-Barcelona star Ronaldinho

Super Eagles legend Austine Jay-Jay Okocha has revealed that he played the role of a senior brother to Brazil football icon Ronaldinho during their time at PSG, Soccernet.ng reports.

Okocha and Ronaldinho are two of the greatest dribblers in the history of the game. And interestingly, both of them played together at French Ligue 1 giants PSG for two years between 2001 and 2003. Okocha joined PSG from Fenerbahce in 1998, while Ronaldinho joined the club from Brazilian club Gremio in 2001.

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Due to their style of their similar styles of play, there have always been talks that both Okocha and Ronaldinho used to practice tricks together at PSG. In fact, since Okocha had more visibility than Ronaldinho at the time, as he had been in Europe way earlier, some fans believed that the Super Eagles even thought the Brazilian star was trying to copy Okocha.

Jay-Jay Okocha. (Photo credit: imago)
However, Okocha has now revealed some details about his relationship with Ronaldinho. The former Super Eagles star was like a senior brother to the former Selecao star.

“I was already a household name at PSG when he came, and PSG was his first team in Europe or outside Brazil, and he was 20 years old,” Okocha told Oma Sports.

“So, of course, it takes a while for one to settle in to learn about new cultures. Yes, at some point, I was a bit like a senior brother, talking to him and encouraging him because his talent was obvious for everyone to see. But sometimes you need time to adjust. That was where I played a role, and I’m glad that he appreciated.”

Who was better: Jay-Jay Okocha or Ronaldinho?
Although both of them had similar playing styles, Ronaldinho was more effective and went on to play for some of the best clubs in the world. Ronaldinho also had a trophy-laden career, winning the World Cup and the Copa America with Brazil. He also won multiple trophies at club level, including the UEFA Champions League. Ronaldinho also won the FIFA Best Player, Ballon d’Or, UEFA Best Player, and South American Best Player Awards.

Meanwhile, even though Okocha did not have as many trophies or awards, he is highly revered in the world. Although he did not play for the biggest clubs in the world, he played at Fenerbahce, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bolton.

Kelvin Omachonu

Kelvin Omachonu is a writer with many years of experience covering sports events in Nigeria and abroad. He is fueled by his love for the job, and is dedicated to delivering captivating stories.