Brazil’s former wonder striker Ronaldo is stepping down as owner of Brazilian first division soccer club Cruzeiro EC. The 47-year-old made the announcement on Monday.
Ronaldo was club boss at the Belo Horizonte club for two and a half years and has now announced the sale of his 90 percent stake.
It was agreed not to disclose the sale price, but the Brazilian media are talking about a tenfold profit for the two-time soccer world champion. “I have the overwhelming feeling that I have fulfilled my duty,” said Ronaldo. In 2021, he had put up eight million euros to become the owner of Cruzeiro’s soccer company, which was yet to be founded at the time.
Criticism from fan circles
Ronaldo has been criticized by fans, some of whom accuse him of not investing enough in the squad. Ronaldo apparently also wants to get rid of his second club Real Valladolid: “Valladolid is next”, he announced. Ronaldo currently owns a 72% stake in the Spanish second division club.
Ronaldo started his career at Cruzeiro and later scored goals for FC Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, among others. He became world champion with the Brazilian national team in 1994 and 2002