Brazil icon reveals how Barcelona’s mismanagement forced him out – ‘Punch in the stomach’ | OneFootball

Ronaldo Nazario, the legendary Brazilian forward and former Barcelona player, has admitted that he regrets how some of the greatest Brazilian footballers have left the Catalan club on bad terms.

He pointed out that his own exit, along with those of Romario, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar, followed a similar pattern of strained relationships with the club’s management.

The former striker, who is now the owner of Spanish club Real Valladolid, shared his thoughts in an interview with Romario on his YouTube channel.

He expressed his disappointment with how Barcelona has handled Brazilian players over the years, highlighting what he believes has been a long-standing issue with the club’s management.

“They have had a very big management problem for a long time,” he began saying.

Looking back at his time

Reflecting on his personal experience, Ronaldo recalled that after an outstanding season with Barcelona, he had reached an agreement with the club to extend his contract.

Ronaldo Nazario has slammed Barcelona. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)

However, just five days later, he was informed that the deal could not go through, and he was eventually transferred to Inter Milan. He described the situation as a painful moment, as he had grown to love the city and was fully settled there.

“It was a punch in the stomach. I was loving the city,” he added.

History with the Brazilians

Ronaldo also reminded Romário, who had played for Barcelona a few years before him, that his departure from the club was far from smooth.

He noted that Romario left in a dispute, just like Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar, who all saw their time at Barcelona end in controversy. Despite their immense success with the club, their relationships with the management eventually soured, leading to bitter departures.

“Rivaldo left fighting. Ronaldinho left fighting, and Neymar left fighting. Look at the story that Barcelona created with so many successful Brazilians, but in the end, the relationship deteriorated and ended very badly.”

When asked whether Barcelona is currently being mismanaged, Ronaldo chose not to give a direct answer. Instead, he suggested that the club has made unexpected decisions at crucial moments, often leaving fans surprised.