By Jose Castro
Ronaldo Nazario was one of the best soccer players that Brazil gave the world during the 90s, playing for clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan. After retiring from his professional career, he stayed away from the soccer industry for a few years until O Fenômeno bought %51 of the actions for $35 million of Spanish side Real Valladolid in 2018.
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Currently, his personal fortune is worth close to $350 million, which he managed to build thanks to his profitable career and the millionaire deals he made with brands like Nike, with whom he signed a 10-year contract for exclusivity on 1996 worth $172 million. He also has signed deals with multiple companies like Duracell, PokerStars or Fiat and earns around $9 million per year just for publicity.
With that amount on his bank account, Ronaldo was able to buy his second club, one that holds close to his heart, as he grew up playing for Brazilian side Cruzeiro, which he bought in December last year for $70 million, after the club had financial issues and was relegated to Brazilian second flight.
Within the players on his clubs, Ronaldo knows he has some hidden gems that in the near future can help him to grow his fortune and boost both Valladolid and Cruzeiro, after he sells them to some of the biggest European teams.
That’s the case of Gonzalo Plata, an Ecuadorian player that arrived in Pucelas for the 2021-22 season out from Portuguese Sporting CP. Although the 21-year-old arrived on a 1-year loan, Ronaldo and the Albivioletas have the option to buy him at the end of the loan for $11.5 million, a figure that O Fenômeno most certainly can pay.
The 21-year-old Ecuadorian right-winger started his professional career playing for Independiente del Valle academy teams, until he joined the senior squad in 2018. After just one season playing in the Ecuadorian top flight, in which he proved he had the talent to play in any European team, Primeira Liga side Sporting CP decided to acquire him for just $1.2 million.
He joined the White and Green U-20 team for the second half of the 2018-18 season but for the start of the 2019-20 season he was promoted to the senior squad given his skills and abilities. His market value rose up to $5.8 million in the two seasons he played in Portugal, prior joining Ronaldo in Valladolid.
He has also demonstrated why he is considered one of the best prospects in the world with Ecuadorian National Team, as he debuted in 2019 on a friendly match and has played a total of 24 games since then, scoring 5 goals and assisting 4 times.
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