La Liga

BRAZIL legend Ronaldo certainly knows a thing or two about success in football.But he has struggled to convert his on-pitch glory to the boardroom since buying his own club.
Ronaldo bought his initial stake in Real Valladolid in 2018Credit: EPA
The two-time World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner, 46, became the first former footballer to buy a club in one of Europe’s top-five leagues in September 2018.
Ronaldo stumped up £26million for 51 per cent of Spanish top-flight side Real Valladolid and then bought another 21 per cent the following year.
Unsurprisingly, Valladolid fans were excited about his arrival – and Ronaldo himself appeared ready for the challenge.
He said: “I have gone through many stages in my training in football to prepare for this. Football is all about passion.
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“We want to build the best team possible to compete while also giving information about our management with transparency.”
However, things have not quite worked out as planned for Real.
The Estadio Nuevo Jose Zorrilla side stayed in LaLiga in Ronaldo’s first year at the helm – and finished a respectable 13th in 2019-20.
However, their luck ran out in 2020-21 as the club were relegated into the second division.
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Valladolid wasted no time returning to the top tier with immediate promotion but the club suffered the drop again last term to sink back into the Segunda Division despite having former Chelsea star Kenedy in the squad.
That prompted heavy criticism of the famous owner, especially as he pointed the finger and blamed others for their second relegation in three seasons.
And now Ronaldo is already looking to sell the club – less than five years after his fanfare takeover.
Reports suggested a letter of intent was sent from investors to the club’s board regarding a possible purchase.
A £69m offer for an 80 per cent takeover was on the table and accepted – but the deal was conditional on Real staying up last term and therefore collapsed.
Ronaldo has also insisted he will not sell unless he leaves the club in a better state than when he arrived in 2018, meaning he looks set to have to wait at least another 12 months due to the relegation.
The former Barcelona and Real Madrid striker is said to want to return to Brazil to be closer to his children.
And he also has a controlling stake in boyhood club Cruziero, investing a whopping £55m for a 70 per cent stake as part of his plan to “give back to Cruzeiro and take them where they deserve to be”.
His plan worked, too, with the Belo Horizonte club winning the 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B to return to the top flight again.
Ronaldo was all smiles when he arrived but is now looking to sellCredit: EPA
The ex-Brazil striker was unpopular with fans following their latest relegationCredit: Getty More

JUDE BELLINGHAM got off to a dream start in his Real Madrid career after scoring a stunning volley and turning in a man of the match performance.Bellingham was making his first La Liga appearance since his £88.5million – rising to £115m – transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
Jude Bellingham celebrated in front of Athletic Bilbao fansCredit: EPA
His debut goal was not clean but it was effectiveCredit: Rex

After being given the nod to start in midfield, the Real Madrid faithful only had to wait 36 minutes before Bellingham came up with a moment of magic against Athletic Bilbao.
David Alaba whipped a corner into the area which sailed over a congested six-yard box.
Bellingham, after initially being part of this pack, had retreated away from the goal.
And as luck had it the ball landed straight at the feet of the 20-year-old for a side-footed volley.
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His effort proceeded to bounce directly into the floor, but despite the scuffed strike Bellingham’s shot headed towards the far corner.
After bouncing into the turf the bounce up had enough height to find its way into the top corner despite a fully stretched Unai Simon.
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Bellingham enjoyed a strong all-round debut
Bellingham wheeled off in celebration before stretching his arms out wide as he stopped in front of rival fans to announce to arrival.
As Dortmund’s top scorer with 14 goals last season he certainly is a threat going forward – but the former Birmingham man can do the lot.
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As well as grabbing his goal and looking to loop in tantalising crosses, Bellingham was snuffing things out at the back and happily taking on three Bilbao players in his own half.
The midfielder drifted this way and that before, backed into a corner, winning a throw with some tricky footwork to the delight of the small travelling contingent high in San Mames stadium.
It wasn’t a one-off either.
With Madrid in the lead through Rodrygo’s opener, Nico Williams looked to have been gifted a chance on the break after a loose ball by the goalscorer.
But his new teammate was on hand to spare any blushes, keeping pace and stretching out a leg on the slide to hook the ball away and stop Williams in his tracks.
And after seeing his debut goal, Madrid fans will be hoping he can help them reclaim the La Liga title.
Jude Bellingham is marauding around the San Mamés pitch like he’s been a Real Madrid player all his life 🤯An impressive debut from the 20-year-old 👏 pic.twitter.com/o4mqPJ7VaW— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) August 12, 2023

Moments after his challenge, Bellingham was in the six-yard box looking to backheel a Camavinga cross past goalkeeper Unai Simon.
That effort was blocked and sent behind for a corner – from which he struck his first goal in all white.
The second half was less dramatic but still so easy on the eye – the debutant drifting through from front to back and left to right with an air of effortless grace.
Bilbao did their best to stop him, clipping and tripping throughout, but Bellingham bounced back up each time.
Performances like this can sell tickets on their own. It would be money well spent.
If he is to live up to the billing as the man to lead the new era at Real Madrid – iconic duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were benched here – then this is the perfect start.
Kroos and Modric have set the standard, and there are stars dotted throughout this side – with many hoping an even bigger name in Kylian Mbappe will arrive before the window closes.
Bellingham also scored a brilliant goal in pre-season against Manchester United.
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But 16 years since David Beckham last strutted his stuff as a Galactico, there is a new English icon in Madrid.
Meanwhile, fellow England star Harry Kane got off to a nightmare start to life in Germany after seeing Bayern Munich lose 3-0 to RB Leipzig on his debut in the DFL-Supercup. More