Ronaldo Luiz Nazario da Lima bought Real Valladolid in 2018 and assured that he would bring it to Europe five years later. Five years have passed and the promise has faded: the continental territory that the side will visit next year will be Andorra, a rival in the second division, a category to which the blanquivioleta club were relegated for the second time a few days ago is tenure of the Brazilian. There are doubts about the project. Ronaldo addressed a press conference to make statements on Monday, barely 12 hours after the fall, and what he achieved in doing so was to outrage fans by denouncing the fan clubs who opposed last year’s shield change as The previous mayor called it “radical” and aggressive because he did not grant the company any subsidies.
The numbers sing. Since 2018, the city has experienced two constances: the decline in 2021, the rise in 2022, and this fall again. The first setback happened without management daring to sack then-coach Sergio González. Yes, José Rojo “Pacheta” was sacked this spring as the team had a point from relegation and he was replaced by an unknown Paulo Pezzolano whose continuity was confirmed for the silver category despite his bad feelings and results. Sporting director Fran Sánchez will continue to face the challenge of assembling a competitive squad in the demanding second division, a year on from direct promotion with Pacheta.
The season proceeded with great social support and an unprecedented 20,000 subscribers. The main criticisms of Ronaldo and his relatives centered on the shield change, with the cheering ranks frequently shouting “The shield is not touched” or “The shield returns it”. Just for a few minutes of Real Valladolid – Mallorca (3-3), in April, Pezzolano’s first meeting, could be heard: “Ronaldo, go now!” Repeated until last Sunday, when relegation was completed at home against Getafe those screams again. The aforementioned branded this segment of fans as “radicals” on Monday and, amid the sales rumours, claimed he will only leave if he leaves “a legacy” in football matters that goes beyond Real Valladolid’s advances as a brand or in extra sport
Animation collective Fondo Norte has issued a statement against the “shameful and startling” comments, insisting they are “free to think and express opinions” in their quest to reclaim the shield. Furthermore, they emphasize that their “altruistic” work helped to create a good atmosphere in the meetings. The Peñas Association consulted by EL PAÍS prefers not to comment on the “serious statements” made by the owner of the Pucela for the time being and will await further information before issuing an opinion.
Talk to the city council
The former striker attacked incumbent councilor Óscar Puente (PSOE) for not providing the company with any funding: “After four years he has done absolutely nothing for Real Valladolid.” Puente bemoaned the leader’s lack of self-criticism after the two sporting debacles in the five-year tenure and reported in radio interviews on Cadena Ser y Cope that the city council had donated five million to the company: “Ronaldo’s problem is that he doesn’t know where that is. He knows neither the country he lives in nor the city he landed in. What you want is not possible in Spain. I can’t give him the stadium, nor can I give him the stadium for 50 years and pay for it.” The President of Pucela also announced on Monday that the prospective new mayor, Jesús Julio Carnero (PP), has accepted , to help the group and to seek additional private initiatives to promote the club. However, former Pucelano mayor Javier León de la Riva (PP) has backed his socialist successor and thinks it is “incredible” that the Brazilian blamed the decline on council politics.
The non-sporting aspect was the protagonist of a large part of the intervention of the high office, little inclined to press conferences and visibly annoyed during the performance, where he also caused some taunts for the media. There he claimed to have invested 18 million in improvements to the municipal stadium, such as removing the old moat or reforming the offices, changing rooms or interior of the Nuevo José Zorrilla. The figure is not far from the 25 million with which Carnero indicated during the campaign that he would carry out a major transformation of Real Valladolid’s fiefdom and cover it in full. Ronaldo flatly denied he wanted to sell the club and insisted he will remain in charge until he achieves the promised but distant ‘legacy’ in sporting affairs, with the challenge of being promoted again for the second time in three years . Pucela has suffered five relegations so far this century, the team with the most players in the first division, without the new owner reversing the trend of ‘promotion’ to become the 13th best team in Spain according to the league’s historical classification.
Confirmed Fran Sánchez now faces the challenge of assembling a good squad for a Pezzolano who is beginning to feel the stigma of not being able to stay. Key players like Larin, Amallah, Hongla or Plata could leave the dressing room due to their high salary. The league’s salary indices will mark the economic strength of Real Valladolid, whose sporting prestige is no longer so attractive after the instability of recent years, despite the rise of Ronaldo.
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