SAO PAULO (AP) - Two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo Nazario agreed to sell his stake in embattled Brazilian soccer club Cruzeiro on Monday.
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 Nazario 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."
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.
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Ronaldo Nazario bought Cruzeiro's soccer department in a business operation that Brazilians know as SAF, which creates public limited companies in clubs that are often on the brink of bankruptcy. Such a move separates the profitable soccer departments from the rest of the club, which remains under control of its associates.
Cruzeiro stockpiled trophies over the past two decades but was in Brazil's second division from 2020-22 amid fears it could disappear due to its gigantic debt, which amounted to more than 1 billion Brazilian reals ($200 million).
Ronaldo Nazario's decision to chip in helped the club stay afloat during its worst days.
"Cruzeiro was in intensive care when I came. I halved the debts, the revenue increased five times. I am leaving Cruzeiro in a comfortable hospital bedroom now," he said.
Six other top-flight clubs have sold their soccer departments in SAF operations in recent years; Cruzeiro archrival Atletico Mineiro; Bahia, which is owned by the Manchester City group; John Textor's Botafogo; Cuiaba; Fortaleza; and Vasco da Gama.
Cruzeiro fans showed on Sunday they were excited about Ronaldo Nazario leaving the club. A banner at Mineirao Stadium read "Bye, Ronaldo" during the team's 3-1 win against Vitoria in the Brazilian championship.
For many Cruzeiro supporters, Ronaldo Nazario was identified more with local rival Corinthians, where the striker finished his professional career in 2011.
New owner Figueiredo defended Ronaldo Nazario.
"I apologize on behalf of Cruzeiro fans," Figueiredo said. "What some did to Ronaldo was not fair. He put his name in the business and he is upset with this situation. I hope tomorrow (the criticism) is not against me."
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