Brazilian great Ronaldo will open soccer schools in three Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai by the end of this year, the head of the project said in Chengdu on Saturday.
"Our first schools will be located in Beijing, Shanghai and Mianyang (in southwest China's Sichuan province), and they are expected to start operation in December," said Paulo Swerts, who manages Ronaldo's soccer schools in China.
Ronaldo, who announced in September his plan to open 30 soccer schools in China, arrived in Mianyang Saturday together with business partner and Brazilian billionaire Carlos Wizard Martins to take part in a soccer promotion event held in a local middle school.
Paulo said that they'll cooperate with 30 schools in China by providing coaching staff.
The Ronaldo Academy, jointly founded by Ronaldo and Carlos, is expected to open 100 football schools worldwide by 2020, with eight to be established in Brazil, the U.S. and China this year.
