Cruzeiro’s current majority shareholder in the SAF (Sociedade Anônima de Futebol), Ronaldo Nazário, has arranged the sale of his club shares to businessman Pedro Lourenço and is expected to announce the change in the entity’s management in the coming days. The information is from the ‘No Ataque’ portal.
According to the publication, the owner of the ‘BH’ supermarket chain has agreed to purchase the percentage that Ronaldo has in the club, and the parties are expected to announce the change on Monday (29).
Change of owner of Cruzeiro SAF
The Cruzeiro SAF will be purchased by a new businessman. Acquired in 2022 by Ronaldo Nazário for R$ 400 million, the Minas Gerais club will be sold to Pedro Lourenço, a figure known to the Celeste (Cruzeiro) fans and the owner of the ‘BH’ supermarket chain.
The businessman is already part of the club’s partnership and has invested R$ 100 million in a partnership with Tara Sports Brasil, a group managed by Ronaldo, to complete the investment in Raposa.
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Gradual change
The change of ownership of the Cruzeiro SAF will not be immediate. Following a protection clause signed by Ronaldo upon the confirmation of the purchase of 90% of the SAF shares, the former player cannot sell the control to third parties during a period of 60 months (five years) or until he invests an additional R$ 350 million in the entity (R$ 50 million were injected at the time of the purchase).
Ronaldo has not yet reached the minimum time in charge of the SAF and has also not contributed the promised amounts – either through his own investments or additional revenues.
To fulfill the agreement, Pedrinho will be a minority partner until Ronaldo’s company fulfills its contractual obligations.
Confirmation of Pedrinho’s participation
Pedro Lourenço is a well-known figure at Cruzeiro. In March 2023, the businessman agreed to a R$ 100 million contribution in exchange for convertible debentures, which ultimately converted the amount into a percentage of the SAF shares.
In recent seasons, Pedrinho has also paid the costs of the modernization works at Toca da Raposa II. The values of the operation were not disclosed, but they may also be used to reduce the total value of the negotiation with Ronaldo.
Obligations of the new owner
If Ronaldo confirms the sale of his shares, the new majority shareholder will have to assume all the Tara Sports agreements in the initial contract, from 2022. In this package, the next owner will inherit: payment of civil and labor debts during the judicial recovery period, payment of tax debt, payment of debts related to sports practice (FIFA and CNRD), and the control of Toca da Raposa I and II.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
The first, second and third episodes are available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel. Stay tuned for the upcoming releases as we keep telling this legend’s life story.
