Rio de Janeiro  - Veteran striker Ronaldo on Tuesday visited his former team-mates at the Brazilian national team camp in Rio de Janeiro, and said that returning to the squad was "a great goal."

Ronaldo, who will turn 32 later this month, expressed a desire to return to the national team after recovering from surgery in February on his left knee.

"I came here to visit my friends, who until recently shared a space with me. I miss that whole atmosphere," the striker told Brazilian television network Globo.

Ronaldo visited the side coached by Carlos Dunga at their hotel before their game Wednesday against Bolivia in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ronaldo, who last played for Milan, is not part of any club squad and is practising at Brazilian club Flamengo in an effort to regain his best form. He said that a return to the national team was not an impossible goal.

"Nothing prevents anyone from returning to the Brazilian national team. That is valid both for me and for any other player," he said.

Ronaldo was in the Brazilian squad for four editions of the World Cup - United States 1994, France 1998, South Korea and Japan 2002 and Germany 2006. He won the trophy twice, in 1994 (without playing at all) and in 2002. Brazil reached the final, and lost, in 1998.

"The doors are always open - that depends on each person. The only thing that is required is that a player plays well with his club. We have to move forward little by little. First, I have to find a club and then I have to get back to playing," Ronaldo said. (dpa)