Could you be one of the lucky ones?
Brazilian footballing legend Ronaldinho is set to take four fans on the guided tour of a lifetime around Paris ahead of the Champions League final.
Ronaldinho, who played for Paris Saint-Germain between 2001-2003, will take them to some of his favourite spots in the French capital – seeing some of the famous sites – before travelling to the Stade de France for the game between Liverpool and Real Madrid on May 28.
Four fans will see the sights of Paris before attending the Champions League final
Hosting the Route 10 freestyle tour, Ronaldinho will take the four fans on the tour before then dining in one of the footballing legend’s favourite Parisian neighbourhood, as well as sample drinks on a rooftop bar.
The opportunity has come about after research conducted by Expedia showed that out of 2,000 football fans asked, 57 per cent of them said they liked to explore a new town or city when visiting to watch a football match.
The Champions League is said to be one of the most popular events that football fans wish to travel to, with research revealing that a quarter of those asked would be willing to take annual leave to go and watch the final, while 16 per cent said they would ‘call in sick’ to work to watch the final.
‘Paris has a special place in my heart’
Following the announcement, Ronaldinho said: “During my career I have played in and visited many stunning cities, but Paris has a special place in my heart, it was my first European home.
“I am so excited to be partnering with Expedia for my Route 10 Freestyle Tour, so I can pass on my love and passion for the city and really make sure fans are making the most of their travels outside of the 90 minutes of football.”
Meanwhile Expedia spokesperson Marwan Badran said: “The pandemic left 44 per cent of fans feeling deprived of football, as they’d missed so many live matches over the past couple of years.
“Therefore, we’re not surprised fans are now making up for lost time and embracing football travel opportunities, exploring more, spending more, as they head back to stadiums around the world in their droves.
“We wanted to offer fans this money-can’t-buy experience with one of the world’s greatest ever players, Ronaldinho, so they can really enjoy the city and all it has to offer with our unique Route 10 Freestyle Tour.”
Related links:
- Jurgen Klopp slams UEFA over Champions League final ticket allocation for Liverpool fans
- Why Chelsea will land huge cash windfall if Real Madrid beat Liverpool in Champions League final
- Two-legged Champions League semi-finals set to be scrapped by UEFA