Ronaldo cites “madness” when buying Cruzeiro and indicates sabbatical period: “Maybe I’ll stop taking medicine” | cruise

Ronaldo was clear in his farewell. Selling the Cruzeiro was a mix of sensations. The joy of handing over command of the SAF to Pedro Lourenço involves, in a way, mental health. Amid the pressure of recent years, Fenômeno cited psychological assistance and indicated that he will have a sabbatical period.

Former player Ronaldo announces the sale of controlling stake in Cruzeiro football

The former player did not confirm whether his departure will be immediate, as he is still the majority shareholder of Valladolid, a Spanish club that will also be sold. He did not detail in what role, but guaranteed that he will continue with his football career after rest.

“I’m going to take this ‘rest of life’ sabbatical, until something comes along.”

– I think I understand the football industry. It doesn’t mean I know everything, but I will most likely (follow) football. Something within the football industry I will be doing, I’ll just try to be more responsible from now on.

In his last interview as Cruzeiro manager, Ronaldo was asked if he would miss the routine. With a smile on his face, he responded positively, but said that he took medication due to the nervousness of the matches and also mentioned that the responsibility for any error on the field fell on him.

“It’s something I’m going to miss. Maybe I’ll stop taking medication at game time, too (laughs).”

– Let’s see how I feel, but I’m going to miss this atmosphere, this adrenaline, the anguish of the game, the missed goal, someone’s mistake and it’s all my fault. I think I’m going to miss it all a lot.

The responsibility cited by Ronaldo in relation to future plans takes into account the purchase of Cruzeiro, effective in 2022. Phenomenon, as well as in other interviews throughout his period at the helm of SAF, says that people around him characterized the negotiation as a “craziness”. Not even he can explain the decision two and a half years ago.

– My psychologist hasn’t been able to get this (the explanation about the purchase) out of me in almost three years, I talk about it a lot. Where do I get these things out of my head, when all my lawyers and friends say it’s crazy to go in?

Now, after completing the sale to Pedro Lourenço, Ronaldo shows relief and mentions that the club’s debt at the time (more than R$1 billion) could leave him “trapped” and put his own assets at risk.

– I only saw potential, and Cruzeiro is too huge to be in the situation it was in. I felt that I was capable of getting the club out of that situation and I was very lucky to put together an incredible, dedicated team.

“Thank God it worked out, because it was my CPF that was there as a guarantee. If it hadn’t worked out, I could have been in prison for debt. The nest egg I earned from football wouldn’t be enough to pay off all that debt.”

Ronaldo signed a document of intention to purchase Cruzeiro’s SAF in December 2021. He took over football from the start, but completed the transaction four months later, amid bureaucratic processes inside and outside the club.

In almost 30 months of management, Ronaldo’s main sporting victory was the 2022 Series B title, sealing the team’s return to the national elite after three years. During this period, Cruzeiro was runner-up to Mineiro twice and managed to return to the international scene, competing in the 2024 South American Championship.

The start of the season is turbulent for Cruzeiro. There was a change in technical command – Larcamón for Fernando Seabra – and defeats to Atlético, in the Mineiro final, and to Sousa, in the first phase of the Copa do Brasil. The team has not yet won in the South American Championship and is in third place in the group, with only the leader advancing. In the Brasileirão, the start is good. With seven points in four rounds, they are in 6th place.