- Ronaldo Nazario withdraws candidacy for Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) presidency.
- Cites lack of support from regional federations, who prefer current management.
- Refocuses attention on Real Valladolid, Spanish club he owns.
- His CBF presidency bid hinted at possible sale of Real Valladolid.
- Valladolid currently last in La Liga, facing relegation battle.
Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario has announced his withdrawal from the race to become the next president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). In a statement released on Wednesday, Ronaldo cited a lack of support from regional football federations as the primary reason for his decision, signaling a return of his full attention to Real Valladolid, the Spanish La Liga club he owns, currently embroiled in a fierce relegation battle.
“No Openness for Dialogue”: Ronaldo Cites Lack of Federation Backing
Ronaldo, who had publicly declared his intention to contend for the CBF presidency, stated on Instagram that his candidacy had failed to garner sufficient interest from the regional football federations, who hold significant voting power within the confederation. “After publicly declaring my intention to run for the presidency of the CBF in the upcoming plenary session, I officially withdraw my candidacy,” Ronaldo announced, acknowledging the limited influence of his individual opinion against the prevailing sentiment.
He elaborated on his outreach efforts to the 27 affiliated federations, revealing that he encountered widespread resistance. “In my first contact with the 27 affiliates, I found 23 closed doors,” Ronaldo stated, expressing disappointment that “the federations refused to welcome me into their homes, arguing their satisfaction with the current management and expressing support for the re-election.” This lack of receptiveness, he explained, prevented him from presenting his vision for Brazilian football or engaging in meaningful dialogue with federation leaders.
Ronaldo emphasized that the CBF statute grants federations the “most significant vote,” making it evident that “there is no way to reach an agreement” under the current circumstances. While respecting the federations’ prerogative to support the incumbent president, Ronaldo reiterated his belief in “dialogue, transparency, and unity” as the fundamental path to the evolution of Brazilian football, ideas he had hoped to champion as president.
Refocus on Real Valladolid as Ownership Questions Loom
The withdrawal from the CBF presidential race signals a renewed commitment by Ronaldo to Real Valladolid. His pursuit of the CBF presidency had fueled speculation about a potential sale of the Spanish club, as holding both positions was deemed “incompatible.” With the CBF ambition now relinquished, Ronaldo is expected to “focus all his efforts back on Real Valladolid,” a club where he had been progressively delegating responsibilities, according to reports from Spain.
However, Ronaldo’s now-abandoned candidacy may have also impacted the potential timeline for a change in ownership at Real Valladolid. His presidential bid had been viewed by some as a catalyst to “expedite the change of ownership,” but the current outlook on this remains “uncertain,” leaving the club’s future ownership structure in question.
Relegation Threat Looms Over Valladolid
Adding urgency to Ronaldo’s renewed focus on Real Valladolid is the club’s precarious position in La Liga. Currently occupying the bottom spot in the league table with a mere 16 points, Real Valladolid faces a daunting 11-point gap to escape the relegation zone. While Leganes and Valencia mark the edge of survival, Ronaldo’s team is significantly distanced from UD Las Palmas and Deportivo Alaves, who are just above the relegation zone with 24 and 26 points, respectively.
The stark reality of Valladolid’s relegation battle underscores the immediate challenges confronting Ronaldo as he redirects his attention back to the Spanish club. Securing La Liga survival will undoubtedly become his paramount priority, demanding significant effort and strategic decision-making in the coming weeks of the season.