Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has become the new majority owner of former club Cruzeiro, beating out a bid from Liverpool chiefs Fenway Sports Group.
Ronaldo spent a year with the Brazilian Serie A side at the start of his career, scoring 44 goals in 47 appearances to lead them to their first ever Copa do Brasil in 1993.
He left for PSV Eindhoven after that season, going on to become one of the world’s best players during spells at Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Since retiring, he has moved into sports ownership and is currently the majority shareholder of Spanish Segunda side Real Vallodolid, having bought a 51 per cent stake in 2018.
He has now made Cruzeiro the second club to come under his ownership, with Ronaldo announcing a deal had been agreed with the team’s president Sergio Santos Rodrigues.
The final agreement was reached during a meeting in Sau Paulo on Saturday, with Ronaldo becoming the majority shareholder.
Both Ronaldo and the club heavily hinted an announcement was close on Saturday evening, with the former striker tweeting the blue heart and fox emjois, a reference to the club colours and nickname.
Cruzeiro themselves built up excitement by tweeting “Blue Nation, you are PHENOMENAL !!!!!” in reference to Ronaldo’s nickname as a player.
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And during an Instagram live broadcast, both Ronaldo and Rodrigues appeared to confirm that a deal had been reached.
“Saying I have a lot to give back. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We will. We have a lot of work and ambition to do the Cruzeiro again,” Ronaldo said.
“The club that revealed Ronaldo to the world, now Ronaldo is opening the doors to the world again,” Rodrigues added.
“A job very well done and sewn for a while. Already known as president, now majority shareholder of Cruzeiro SAF.”
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Ronaldo has beaten off competition from Liverpool owners FSG to complete the deal, with former Cruzeiro chief Aloisio Vasoncellos confirming an offer had been received.
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“I support the proposal of the Bank of Boston. They own Liverpool (England), which is the best organized and managed football club in Europe,” he told Superesportes.
Ronaldo takes charge with Cruzeiro currently languishing in Brazilian football’s second tier, with the club in the process of restructuring their finances.