Ronaldo Nazario has announced in Brazil his intention to preside over the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF), for which he must overcome the requirement of not being the leader of any other team. This requirement implies the sale of the Real Valladolid Football Club, an entity that was acquired in 2018 and where it is highly questioned due to the poor football results and its management. “We are negotiating a possible sale very soon and we must close the operation. It is not going to be an impediment to my candidacy,” the Brazilian acknowledged in an interview on Globo Esporte, thus confirming months of rumors about his farewell to Pucela towards a new sporting challenge. The elections will be held between March 2025 and March 2026.
The former footballer has made his plans known through said interview. “This announcement is to send a message to the presidents of the federations and clubs. I am a candidate for the presidency of the CBF. I have incredible plans and before you commit to voting, I would like to have personal conversations with each of you. I’m going to travel to Brazil for that,” he assured, admitting that to do so he will have to say goodbye to Real Valladolid. “I have hundreds of motivations, but the biggest is for Brazilian football to be respected worldwide again. What happens to me the most on the street is that people stop and ask me to play again because the situation of the national team is not the best, both on and off the field,” added the football legend, idolized in his country.
His time in Pucela was in a difficult moment, with frequent chants and even rallies against him at the José Zorrilla stadium, since the Blanquivioletas were last until this last matchday, where they won 1-0 at home against also starving Valencia. The fans insistently criticize his measures from the offices, because since his arrival in Valladolid amidst great promises and dreams he has barely guaranteed stability: he has suffered two relegations, in addition to two promotions, and that of “playing in Europe in five years” remained. in chimera. The fans have also not been able to clarify how the sports management has acted regarding the income in recent years derived from transfers such as that of Fresneda, Cyle Larin or Boyomo, whose absences through millionaire income were not balanced with corresponding investments.
Ronaldo, who had rarely been to the city or to the box lately, was last seen a few days ago at a shareholders meeting. The Brazilian became the largest shareholder and president in 2018, the year in which the entity rose to First Division, disbursed some 30 million euros and from there began a period of ups and downs and little flash despite his ambitious promises. The former soccer player’s time has brought about improvements in the professionalization of the entity, in the infrastructure of the stadium and in the internal organization chart of the quarry, but these advances have not been lavished on the field of play and have diminished the support of the fans for its president. This has been slipping in different appearances in recent months, none before the local press, which was considering leaving Real Valladolid although its delegates in the city insisted on talking about the “project” and that this measure would only come when those ideas had been consolidated. . The last few months, especially after last summer’s rise, have been filled with sale rumors: from a Valladolid group of builders to Mexican, Egyptian or American funds.
This succession of names has a new suspicion with the latest big move from Ronaldo’s management. The dismissal of Paulo Pezzolano, who left the team bottom and adrift, was resolved, after two weeks without a coach, with the incorporation of the Argentine Diego Cocca… also linked to one of the business conglomerates recently linked to the potential acquisition of the club. The president has left no signs or dates of when the change of ownership could occur or the price for which it could be executed.
