Cruzeiro is the first club, in the SAF format, to be resold in Brazil. The majority shares (90%) passed from Ronaldo Fenômeno to businessman Pedro Lourenço, better known as Pedrinho. O ge provides a summary of what is known about the negotiation so far.
In a meeting with the Cruzeiro team, Alexandre Mattos calls for fans
The agreement, as was Ronaldo’s agreement with the association in December 2021, is protected by confidentiality clauses regarding established values and conditions. It occurred between two legal entities: Tara Sports (linked to Fenômeno) and BPW Sports (connected to Pedro Lourenço).
But the truth is that Pedro Lourenço’s mandatory contributions are “well below” R$500 millionas found out by the ge. The new Cruzeiro management is committed to making contributions until the end of the year, but the first part should be made in the coming months to sign players in the July window.
Pedrinho inherits obligations from Tara Sports’ contract with the association, as assured by the ge. One of them and most important is Ronaldo’s investment commitment. The Phenomenon was committed to contributing R$50 million initially. Another R$350 million would come through direct investment or through increased revenue based on the association’s average results between 2017 and 2021.
SAF will still continue to be responsible for transfers to the association. Among them, the payment of creditors in the judicial recovery, the payment of the tax debt (in exchange for control of Toca da Raposa and Toquinha), which was paid in installments through programmed means of the Federal Government, and the payment of sports debts (FIFA and CNRD).
Ronaldo Fenômeno also doesn’t completely leave the cruise. He will remain on the club’s board of directorscomposing the body along with names indicated by Pedro Lourenço and also by the association.
This week, the Cruzeiro association will formally comment on the acquisition by Pedro Lourenço, stating that it has no interest in acquiring the percentage for sale by Ronaldo. It is a customary manifestation and provided for in the SAF acquisition agreement.
The association has 10% of SAF shares, but does not have veto power to negotiate the sale of Ronaldo to Pedro Lourenço. However, it will form a committee with five jurists to monitor the sale procedures.
The steps to complete the sale will also follow the same as those for a company acquisition/merger. The negotiation will have to pass the scrutiny of CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defense). The expectation is that the procedures will be completed within a month and a half.
“Acceleration of results” in football
On the administrative side, Pedro Lourenço’s SAF maintains Gabriel Lima, CEO of Cruzeiro under Ronaldo. It was a requirement from the businessman when negotiating with Ronaldo Fenômeno.
In the football department, changes. Alexandre Mattos, Paulo Pelaipe and Edu Dracena will form the new trio managing Cruzeiro football. Paulo André, Pedro Martins and Paulo Autuori left, names brought in by Ronaldo’s management.
In football, the idea already demonstrated by Pedrinho is to increase investments in football to accelerate Cruzeiro’s results. For this reason, there will be an injection of resources into the budget for the purchase of athletes in the July window.
– What we have to do is reinforce the team as usual. To improve the level like Ronaldo improved from last year to this year. Sometimes the title doesn’t happen, we had the title practically guaranteed and we escaped. We have to have punctual people to reinforce the team so that we don’t go through the hardship we went through last year. Alexandre is already working on it. Let’s try to pinch something.
The sporting objectives have not yet been clarified by the new management. But the idea is to try to take Cruzeiro to the knockout stages of the South American Championship with the current squad and, with the mid-year reinforcements, be able to fight for positions on the front page.
