Unlike many other legends, including his great teammate at Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo had stayed away from the game, apart from a fleeting stint as a media pundit. But this veteran player has his eyes set on becoming the president of his country’s football federation.
“I can’t return to the field as many of you tell me,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram. “And, to be honest, I don’t even think our biggest defeats in recent years were inside the four lines. They were not broadcast on television. We need to look beyond the headlines. In the institution,” he said.
“My motivations for this candidacy are countless and perhaps the greatest of them is the belief that I can really contribute to bringing respect back to Brazilian football,” he said. Since winning the 2002 World Cup, their fifth – Ronaldo was one of the stars and the Golden Boot winner – Brazil have faltered in the knockouts, their title drought angering passionate fans and exasperating coaches.
He said that as part of his ambition he plans to travel across his country. “I am going to travel to all corners of Brazil, listen to all the people who need to be heard and present to the Federation a private investment project that will be the first for the sustainable development of the sport in every state of the country. Never seen. Continue to generate business, jobs and entertainment with innovation. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner is determined to rebuild the credibility of Brazilian football’s top unit with his old passions in the new times.
As part of his candidacy, he is busy selling his stake in several clubs, including La Liga side Real Valladolid, national daily O’Globo reports. He was quoted as saying, “It will not hinder my candidacy.”
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