Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario, nicknamed “The Phenomenon,” considered Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to be “the best club president in the history of football,” noting during his participation in the World Sports Summit in Dubai that his influence went beyond the boundaries of the Royal Club to bring about a radical transformation in the game at the economic and institutional levels.
Ronaldo, who played for Real Madrid at the peak of his career, praised Perez’s managerial vision, considering that he “changed football” through an integrated project that combined global stardom, long-term investment, and the transformation of major clubs into institutions with global influence, a model that has become a reference in modern football.
Speaking about his career after retirement, Ronaldo explained that entering the world of club ownership was not a traditional choice, describing his decision as “crazy,” but it stemmed from his deep passion for the game. “I’m not normal, I have to admit that,” he said. Why did you accept all this pressure? Because I’m crazy. Football was and will remain my greatest passion, it is my whole life.”
The former Brazilian international indicated that he retired from playing in 2011, before establishing a sports marketing agency a year later while living in Madrid, explaining that this step marked the beginning of his transition from inside the field to the scenes of the football industry.
Ronaldo added that during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, he received an opportunity to invest in a club that was active at the time in the second division, saying: “Ascension to the first division was very difficult, but I said that the second division was okay.”
Al-Dhahirah admitted that financial challenges constituted the major obstacle in his managerial experience, explaining: “From the second to the fifth division, the competition is very difficult when you face clubs that have budgets three, four, or five times greater than yours.” He stressed that comparison with giants such as Real Madrid or Barcelona was not on the table at all, adding: “We did not compete with Real Madrid or Barcelona. “We had to think about the real competitors we face in order to stay in the first division.”
Ronaldo explained that his strategy was based on realism and building the foundation before thinking about the competition, noting that the club initially focused on the fans and infrastructure. He said: “The cheapest ticket in the league for our fans, and we rehabilitated the stadium until it became almost new.”
He revealed that the condition of the stadium when he took over the club was very modest, adding: “When I saw the stadium for the first time, it was at the level of fourth-tier stadiums,” which prompted the administration to make it a priority in the development project. He stressed that investing in players came at a later stage and in a deliberate manner, saying: “We started first with the basics, then we invested in the players, and brought in strong names, but always within the limits of the budget.”
In terms of his memories as a player, Ronaldo recalled one of his most influential moments, when he scored a historic hat-trick at Old Trafford, describing that night as “unbelievable.” He said: “I have never felt anything like this before, not even after that.” “It was the most special moment in my career, especially since it came outside our homeland.”
Ronaldo expressed his great gratitude to the Manchester United fans, explaining: “After the harsh defeat, all the United fans applauded me. They showed great respect for me at that moment.”
He added that this experience consolidated the status of English fans, considering them to be among the best in the world. He said: “England fans are characterized by passion and respect. “For me, they are among the best in the world.” Ronaldo concluded his speech by emphasizing that football, whether from the position of player or owner, remains at its core “the story of fans, identity and society,” which is the most important lesson he learned during his career inside and outside the green rectangle.
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