RonaldoEl Fenómeno, the former Brazilian star, sold his majority stake in cruise of Belo Horizonte, a club to which he returned to the first category of Brazilian soccer in just over two years of management.
“My goal was achieved.. My idea was always to rebuild Cruzeiro and put it in its right place, and at the right time pass it to the right person,” Ronaldo said at a press conference at the team’s headquarters. the Toca da Raposa II, in Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais. That “person” is the millionaire Pedro Lourençoowner of the BH supermarket chain, the fifth largest in the country, according to the trade association.
The blue club kept the agreed amounts and the new shareholding composition secret, but local media warned that the businessman will become the owner of 90% of the shares of the Sociedad Anónima de Fútbol (SAF) for 600 million reais (about 117 million dollars).
Ronaldo had bought his stake for 400 million reais. That is to say: it was an excellent economical business. He bought part of the indebted team in 2021 for about $78 million and is reportedly selling it for nearly $117 million.
The agreement seals the end of a second life for Ronaldo at Cruzeiro, one of Brazil’s traditional teams that collapsed in recent years. It was with the blue club of Belo Horizonte that he made his big professional debut in 1993.
When El Fenómeno became the majority shareholder in December 2021, the team was already experiencing financial and management problems. “He was in the intensive care unit,” said Ronaldo, acknowledging that although he detected “potential,” his decision to take over the team was the product of “irresponsibility and madness.”
But after reducing the debts by almost half and quintupling turnover, the club rests “comfortably in the hospital bed,” he noted, signaling that the restructuring is not complete. According to the former soccer player, the businessman will be able to inject “speed into investments,” to “drive” Cruzeiro, currently seventh at the start of the Brasileirao, to “fight for important things.”
“It is not easy, I am aware of the difficulties but I am prepared,” the businessman responded at his side. These acquisitions in Brazilian football are possible through the SAF, a legal figure approved in 2021 to stimulate the transformation of clubs into companiesproviding financial sanitation advantages.
Cruzeiro was one of the best Brazilian clubs of the last decade, with two Brazilian tournament champion titles (2013 and 2014) and two in the Brazilian Cup (2017 and 2018).
But the bad times came at the end of 2019, when it lost the category due mainly to financial problems and internal tensions within the management. It even flirted with the third division in 2020 and 2021. The arrival of Ronaldo, world champion with Brazil in 2002 and two-time Ballon d’Or winner (1997 and 2002), gave the club oxygen.
In his first season in charge, the also owner of the Real Valladolidfrom the Spanish first division, opted for quality, but inexpensive players.
The move bore fruit and after three seasons in Serie B, la Raposa (fox, in Spanish) He returned last year to the first category of Brazilian soccer.
The club was “well managed,” said the millionaire regarding Ronaldo, who in recent months was heavily criticized by fans for disappointing results.
Especially after a specific game. The fans exploded after the 2-0 home defeat against América-MG for the semifinals of the Minas Gerais Championship and there was ruthless criticism and insults against the footballers and Ronaldo himself.
After the goals from Aloísio dos Santos and Adilson dos Anjos, which sealed the victory of America, the fans showed their annoyance and began to shout and insult everyone. Also, to Ronaldo.
As a player for Cruzeiro, Ronaldo scored 56 goals in 58 games, which earned him a call-up to the 1994 World Cup, which he won without playing a single minute. After consecration in the United States, Cruzeiro sold it to PSV Eindhoven (1994-1996). He then shone in Barcelona (1996-1997), Inter Milan (1997-2002), Real Madrid (2002-2007) and Milan (2007-2008), before finishing his career at Corinthians (2009-2011).