Football icon Ronaldo is reportedly set to launch a campaign to become the president of the Brazilian FA – and his first job in office will to be to try to convince Pep Guardiola to become the national team’s next coach.
Ronaldo ,49, is the current owner of Real Valladolid in La Liga and Brazilian club Cruizeiro, and led the latter back to the top-flight last year. But sources in both Spain and Brazil claim that the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and twicee Ballon D’Or winner now has his sights on the presidency of the country’s football association.
Man City boss Guardiola is into the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and is expected to bring the curtain down on his illustrious nine-year spell in charge of the club at the end of the season. The celebrated Spaniard has been wanted for the Selecao job for a considerable amount of time, but if Ronaldo is to land the top job at the Brazilian FA, then he will hope his personal relationship with the tiki-taka master could convince him to head to South America.
Ronaldo enjoyed his career best season alongside Guardiola at Barcelona in the 1996/97 campaign under Bobby Robson. “O Fenomeno” hit a sensational 47 goals in 49 matches to help Barca win a treble of the Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey and the old UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. The Brazil legend ended up leaving the Camp Nou shortly however, joining Italian giants Inter in a world-record deal of $27 million (£21.3million) 12 months later.
But the former striker made a lasting impression on Guardiola, who back in 2022 said: “I played with Ronaldo Nazario. That year in Barcelona was something (else). He was a funny guy but was humble and incredibly loved in the locker room. Like most Brazilians he was a joy in life. Sometimes European people have too much concerns but they believe in enjoying life. This is the Brazilian mentality.”
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