Two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo Nazário agreed to sell his stake in embattled Brazilian soccer club Cruzeiro on Monday. And he plans to do the same at Spain’s second division club Real Valladolid, which he has controlled since 2018.
He bought the indebted club’s soccer department in 2021 for about $78 million and is reportedly selling it for almost $117 million.
The Brazil great started his career at the Belo Horizonte-based club, but as an owner he was accused by supporters of failing to invest as much as promised. Similar claims were made against him an as an owner of Real Valladolid in Spain’s second division.
“Maybe some have exaggerated a little going against me, but this is irrelevant to me,” Ronaldo Nazário said in a news conference after selling his stake.
“I know most fans are grateful to me and my team for putting Cruzeiro back in the national and international scene.
My goal was reached, that was always the idea. To bring Cruzeiro back and, at the right time, give it to the right person.”
He did not provide many details on how he will divest from Valladolid, where he bought a 51% stake six years ago.
“My answer will be a short one; Valladolid is next,” Ronaldo Nazario said. “I will take some time off (after selling both Cruzeiro and Valladolid).”
Fans of the Spanish club have criticized Ronado Nazário’s management for moving on players for high numbers, but failing to return some of that to their team, which was relegated twice since the Brazilian took over.
The new owner of Cruzeiro’s soccer department is Pedro Figueiredo, a billionaire and hardcore fan who built one of Brazil’s biggest supermarket chains. He said at a news conference it will take him 10 years to pay the club’s debts.
