Ronaldo says Real Valladolid will also be sold

Ronaldo Nazário stated this Monday (29) at a press conference about the sale of Cruzeiro's SAF that he also intends to sell the other club he owns, Real Valladolid from Spain. The former player and businessman stated that he is looking for investors and that the Spanish club will be sold soon.

Valladolid owner

The first club acquired by Ronaldo's companies was Real Valladolid from Spain in 2018. The former striker currently owns 82% of the Spanish club and his management is heavily attacked by fans who accuse him of not investing resources in the team. The Phenomenon had 51% in 2018, then acquired another 21% for 30 million euros from Sociedade Anônima Desportiva, SAD.

Fan criticism and protests

Valladolid fell to the Spanish second division in the 2023/2024 season and the fall was harshly criticized by the fans. At the end of last season, the club raised around 202 million reais from player sales and was expected to be invested in building the squad for the current season, but only 24 million reais were used, increasing protests.

This year the club started the championship poorly and was in danger of falling to the third division, further increasing protests against Ronaldo. But now after an impressive start, the team led by former Cruzeiro coach, Paulo Pezzolano, occupies second place in the championship.

Ronaldo at Cruzeiro

Ronaldo's era at Cruzeiro ended this Monday (29) with the confirmation of the sale of SAF da Raposa to the supermarket businessman from Minas Gerais, Pedro Lourenço, known as Pedrinho.

The former player purchased SAF from Cruzeiro in December 2021 and began managing the club in January 2022, but approval by the Deliberative Council only occurred in March. He took over the club's sporting debts and managed the judicial recovery that the club was undertaking.

His main mission was to reduce the debt of around 1 billion reais and make the team that had been in series B for two years return to the first division of the Brazilian Championship. Access came in the first year of management.

This year the club was eliminated early from the Copa do Brasil, in the first phase, after losing to Sousa da Paraíba. Cruzeiro also lost the final of the Campeonato Mineiro to its biggest rival, Atlético, which generated even more protests from the fans, mainly for reinforcements.

Featured Photo: Ronaldo Nazário says he will sell Valladolid (Reproduction/Gustavo Aleixo/X/@Cruzeiro)