Fuming fans brand Ronaldo a ‘disaster’ and demand ‘sell the club and leave now’ as his team is relegated from top flight
FUMING Real Valladolid fans branded Ronaldo Nazario’s ownership of the club a “disaster” after they were relegated from La Liga.
Valladolid’s relegation to the Segunda Division came after they only managed a draw with Getafe on the final day of the season, causing them to suffer the drop by just one point despite accumulating 40.
Furious fans directed their fury towards Ronaldo.
As quoted by eldesmarque, one fan declared: “We are in dust, but it is what we have deserved because it has been a real disaster.”
Before they pleaded with the 46-year-old to sell the club.
They added: “We were playing the relegation and not a shot on goal. Valladolid a band and Ronaldo a disaster.
“Let him sell the club and leave now. He promised us Europe and we are going to Second.”
Fans also blamed Ronaldo for his decision to replace previous boss Pacheta with Paulo Pezzolano.
The fan said: “What they have done is to bring Pezzolano who is a trainer like Pacheta.
“It has not been the revulsive that the team needed and another year that we are going to Second.”
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Despite the criticism, Pezzolano actually yielded a better points-per-game record than his predecessor, notching 1.09 points to Pacheta’s 1.04.
Following the relegation, Ronaldo has confirmed both Pezzolano and sporting director Fran Sanchez will stay at the club.
He told Diario AS: “Fran Sanchez and Pezzolano will continue.
“They are very important pillars for us and we have total confidence in them. Our project to return to the First Division is with them.”
The relegation also comes after a shocking referee error which saw the whistle blown mid-shot as a Valladolid player rifled the ball into the net just before half-time against Sevilla in May.
Ronaldo was furious at the call, with Pucelanos going on to lose the game 3-0.
After the game he wrote on Twitter: “INADMISSIBLE what happened today in Zorrilla!
“Until now we had been silent trying to vindicate our dissatisfaction through official means, meetings and petitions, avoiding making a public exposure. But enough already!
“This is professional football and we demand explanations. Mistakes of these dimensions can change an entire season.”
Valladolid were previously relegated from La Liga in the 2020/21 season, marking this year as the second time they have been relegated under Ronaldo’s tenure.
Ronaldo, who won two World Cups with Brazil in 1994 and 2002, became the club’s majority shareholder in September 2018.
The ex-Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Barcelona ace is also an owner of Brazilian Serie A side Cruzeiro, with the team currently sitting 10th following promotion last year.
Ronaldo has previously suggested he would not be at the helm for the long term but ruled out the sale of the club following the relegation.
He said: “I haven’t thought about the sale. Obviously, the market is quite hot, but I will not leave Valladolid until I leave the legacy I want to leave.”
Relegation is nothing new to Valladolid.
They have a firm status as one of Spain‘s yo-yo clubs, having suffered four relegations in 13 years.