Ronaldo Luiz Nazario da Lima bought Real Valladolid in 2018 and said he would take it to Europe five years later. That five years have passed and the promise has been deflated: the continental territory that the team will visit next year will be that of Andorra, rival in Second Division, category to which the white and violet club descended a few days ago for the second time in the mandate of the Brazilian. Doubts loom over the project. Ronaldo left on Monday at a press conference, just 12 hours after the fall was consummated, to give explanations and what he got was to outrage the fans, calling "radical" the supporters clubs that have opposed the change of shield executed last year, and attacking the previous mayor for not giving subsidies for the entity.
The numbers sing. Since 2018 the city has experienced two permanences, the descent of 2021, the rise of 2022 and this new fall. The first setback occurred without the management daring to fire the then coach, Sergio González. José Rojo 'Pacheta' was dismissed this spring, with the team one point away from relegation, replacing him with an unknown Paulo Pezzolano whose continuity has been ratified for the silver category despite his bad feelings and results. The sporting director, Fran Sánchez, will also continue with the challenge of assembling a competitive squad in the demanding Second a year after celebrating the direct promotion with Pacheta.
The season has passed with great social support, with the unprecedented figure of 20,000 subscribers. The main criticisms of Ronaldo and his relatives have responded to the change of shield, with frequent chants of "The shield is not touched" or "The shield return it" by the animation stands. Only during a few minutes of Real Valladolid - Mallorca (3-3), in April, the first meeting of Pezzolano, was heard "Ronaldo go now!" until last Sunday, when consummating the relegation against Getafe at home, those shouts were reproduced again. The aforementioned on Monday called that part of the fans "radical" and said before the rumors of sale that he will only leave when he leaves "a legacy" still to come in football matters beyond the advances of Real Valladolid as a brand or in the extra-sport.
The animation collective Fondo Norte has issued a statement against the "shameful and surprising" statements and have insisted on being "free to think and opine" in their eagerness to recover the shield. In addition, they stress that their "altruistic" work has contributed to generating a good atmosphere in the meetings. The Federation of Supporters Clubs, consulted by EL PAÍS, prefers not to pronounce itself at the moment before the "serious statements" of the owner of the Pucela and will wait to obtain more information before signifying.
Pulse with the City Council
The former striker attacked the acting councilor, Óscar Puente (PSOE), for not giving financing to the entity: "After four years he has done absolutely nothing for Real Valladolid." Puente lamented the lack of self-criticism of the leader after the two sports debacles in the five years of command and reported in radio interviews on Cadena Ser and Cope that the City Council has contributed five million to the entity: "Ronaldo's problem is that he does not know where he is. He knows neither the country in which he lives nor the city in which he has landed. In Spain what he intends is not possible. Neither I can give him the stadium nor can I give him the stadium for 50 years and assume the costs myself." The president of Pucela also announced on Monday that the likely new mayor, Jesus Julio Carnero (PP), has pledged to help the team, in addition to seeking private initiative to boost the club. The former mayor of Pucelano Javier León de la Riva (PP), however, has supported his socialist successor by considering "a pass" that the Brazilian blames the decline on consistorial policies.
The extra-sporting facet starred in much of the intervention of the high office, little given to press conferences and visibly upset during the appearance, where he also threw some pulla for the media. There he claimed to have invested 18 million in improvements to the stadium, owned by the municipality, such as the removal of the old pit or a reform in the offices, changing rooms or interior of the New José Zorrilla. The figure is not far from the 25 million with which Carnero indicated in the electoral campaign that he would undertake a major remodeling of the Real Valladolid fiefdom as covering it completely. Ronaldo flatly denied that he aspired to sell the club and insisted that he will remain in charge until he reaches that promised but distant "legacy" in sporting matters, with the challenge of ascending again for the second time in three years. The Pucela has suffered five relegations so far this century, the team that more in First, without the new ownership has reversed the trend of "elevator" of the thirteenth best team in Spain according to the historical classification of the League.
The ratified Fran Sánchez now faces the challenge of curdling a good template for a Pezzolano that starts with the stigma of the failure of permanence. Key players such as Larin, Amallah, Hongla or Plata could leave that dressing room as a result of their high salary. The salary indexes of the League will mark the economic power of Real Valladolid, whose sporting prestige is no longer so attractive after the instability offered in recent years despite the irruption of Ronaldo.
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