Real Valladolid announced on Friday that Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima is selling his majority stake in the Spanish club to a North American investment firm, backed by a European financial fund.
The club confirmed the agreement in an official statement: “The chairman of the board of directors and majority shareholder of Real Valladolid, Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, announces a deal has been signed for the transfer of a majority stake in the club to a North American investment group with the financial backing of a European fund.” The sale remains subject to approval by Spain’s sports council.
The announcement follows a turbulent season for Valladolid, which saw the team suffer relegation from La Liga after losing 29 of its 37 matches. Fan frustration boiled over in recent weeks, with protests calling on Ronaldo to step down and “go home.”
Ronaldo first acquired a 51% stake in Valladolid in September 2018. While his tenure included efforts to rebrand the club and modernize its image, such as a controversial badge redesign in 2022, he ultimately reversed the badge change in 2024 due to strong fan backlash.
Valladolid’s recent history has been a rollercoaster. After being relegated to the second division in 2021, the club bounced back the following season, only to repeat the same cycle in 2023. Their return to La Liga in 2024 proved short-lived, culminating in a disappointing campaign and renewed relegation.
What you should know
Ronaldo’s exit marks the end of a six-year era at Real Valladolid, marred by instability and repeated relegations. The sale could usher in a new chapter for the club, as fans await the incoming investors’ plans for revival and long-term stability.
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