New Delhi: Former Barcelona player and renowned Brazilian forward Ronaldo Nazario has acknowledged that he laments the way some of the best Brazilian football players have departed the Catalan team. He noted that his departure followed a similar pattern of tense relations with the club’s management, as did the exits of Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar. In an interview with Romario, the former striker—who currently owns Real Valladolid in Spain—shared his opinions on his YouTube channel.
He highlighted what he believes has been a persistent problem with Barcelona’s management and voiced his dissatisfaction with the club’s treatment of Brazilian players over the years. He started off by adding, “They have had a very big management problem for a long time.”
🎙️ Ronaldo Nazário on his own departure from the club.
🗣️: “After a fantastic season, I was told Barcelona couldn’t renew my contract. It felt like a punch in the stomach. I had grown to love the city.” pic.twitter.com/cvEAYSAGId
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) February 15, 2025
Ronaldo’s time at Barcelona
When Ronaldo thought back on his own experience, he remembered that he had struck a contract extension agreement with Barcelona following an exceptional season. Five days later, though, he received word that the trade could not be completed, and he was ultimately moved to Inter Milan. He said leaving was a terrible moment because he had been completely settled in the city and had come to love it.
Over the course of his time at Barcelona, the Brazilian icon had scored an astonishing 47 goals in 49 appearances for the Catalan club. But the way his stint ended at Camp Nou was truly disappointing.
“It was a punch in the stomach. I was loving the city,” he added.
Romário, who had played for Barcelona a few years prior, was also reminded by Ronaldo that his exit from the team was not without its difficulties. He pointed out that, like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar, who all had contentious endings to their Barcelona careers, Romario too left in a dispute. Their relationships with the management eventually deteriorated, resulting in painful departures, despite their tremendous success with the club.
“Rivaldo left fighting. Ronaldinho left fighting, and Neymar left fighting. Look at the story that Barcelona created with so many successful Brazilians, but in the end, the relationship deteriorated and ended very badly.”
Ronaldo declined to directly respond when asked if Barcelona is now being mismanaged. Rather, he implied that the team has frequently taken unanticipated actions at pivotal times, surprising supporters.
Ronaldo Nazario is considered as one of the greatest ever players to grace the football pitch but the Brazilian icon exposed his former club, FC Barcelona’s mismanagement that led to his departure. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
