09 September 2023 , 17:56
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Chelsea are getting the band back together for a charity match and one of their former players has sparked plenty of chatter on social media.
Former Chelsea players have converged on Stamford Bridge to help raise funds for The Chelsea Foundation and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, in memory of Gianluca Vialli, who passed away aged 58 in January following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
They are taking on a team of ex-Bayern Munich players in west London on Saturday night to pay tribute to Vialli and raise vital money for charitable causes.
Legends like John Terry, Petr Cech, Michael Essien, Gianfranco Zola and Claude Makelele will be on show. But it is former Chelsea midfielder Ramires who has set tongues wagging and fingers typing among the club’s fanbase.
That’s because the Brazilian looks completely different to when he turned out for the club between 2010 and 2016. Now 36 years old, Ramires is sporting a beard, something never seen during his Chelsea days.
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“Nothing prepared me for Ramires’ look,” wrote one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Ramires really changes man. Didn’t know he could grow hair,” added another.
“Biggest plot twist - Ramires used to keep his hair real low, now he decided to grow some hair,” observed one commenter. "Had to double take before I noticed that was Ramires," wrote another. One concluded: “I hadn’t even recognized Ramires… has it really been that long.”
Ramires (right) with his old Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou (@salomonkalou/Instagram)
Ramires during his Chelsea days (Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Ramires posed for pictures with his former Chelsea team-mates John Obi Mikel, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda. The pictures on the players’ Instagram accounts sparked happy memories for the club’s supporters, who are ready for some nostalgia during the current difficult times.
Ramires completed a clean sweep of trophies during his time with the club, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League and Europa League. He is most fondly remembered for his deft chip against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final in 2012.
The Brazil international left Chelsea in 2016, signing for Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning in a £25million move. He spent three years in China before moving back to Brazil with Palmeiras to finish his career in 2020.
He will play alongside the likes of Eidur Gudjohnsen, Carlo Cudicini and Frank Leboeuf on Saturday night at his old stomping ground, with Roberto Di Matteo managing from the dugout. Bayern’s team will contain the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Claudio Pizarro, Lucio and Roy Makaay. They will be coached by Stefan Effenberg, with two 30 minute halves.