Season 1996-97: Ronaldo's year at Barça
Ronaldo Nazario he joined Barça in 1996 with only 19 years from PSV Eindhoven with the halo of great scorer. He only played one season under the command of Bobby Robson, but 51 games were enough to get three titles and become the idol of a whole culé generation in addition to the top scorer in the league 1996-97.
Ronaldo Nazario, possibly the best center forward in history
Talk about Ronaldo Nazario da Lima, is to speak possibly of one of best strikers of all time. A born goalscorer. Since his birth in Rio de Janeiro in 1976, Ronaldo has lived by and for football. A passion that only the very serious injuries he suffered and that prevented his already huge legend from, was even older.
Its beginnings go back to Brazil, where he was trained as a football player under the baton of a Brazilian football legend: Jairzinho. Thanks to him, managed to reach the Brazilian first category soccer where he would sign his first contract with only 16 years and 236 days. His talent was innate and it did not take long to reach Europe. So that, After becoming world champion in the USA. UU. in 1994, Ronaldo signed for the Dutch club from the city of Eindhoven, PSV. There he established himself as the top scorer in the Dutch league and won the Dutch Cup.
The best player of 'La Liga de las Estrellas'’
But if you have to highlight a stage as a legend of world football, that would be the season 1996-1997, the one known as ‘The League of Stars‘, the year in which he signed with FC. Barcelona after a purchase that would become the most expensive in Spanish football. But what, definitely, it would be worth it. That campaign was amazing., 47 goals in 51 matches. Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively.
Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively, Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively, Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively. Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively 1996/97 Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively, Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively 12 Some numbers that almost perfectly sum up the qualities of the Brazilian striker and that ended up consecrating him definitively 1996, when he took the ball in his own field and overcame all the opposing defenders that came his way until he materialized a historic goal.
when he took the ball in his own field and overcame all the opposing defenders that came his way until he materialized a historic goal Skin. To their 20 when he took the ball in his own field and overcame all the opposing defenders that came his way until he materialized a historic goal, when he took the ball in his own field and overcame all the opposing defenders that came his way until he materialized a historic goal.
when he took the ball in his own field and overcame all the opposing defenders that came his way until he materialized a historic goal
The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him. Ronaldo The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him 4.000 The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him, The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him, The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him, The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him, The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him. But nevertheless, The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him, The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him, The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him.
The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him 1996 The Brazilian's spectacular start to the season multiplied the interest of several clubs in signing him. The then president, The then president, The then president 500 The then president. But nevertheless, The then president.
The then president. The then president, The then president 26 The then president 3.000 The then president (something not contemplated in the previous agreement), some figures did not add up and Ronaldo said that everything was broken, "They carry 7 cheating on me for months. Nuñez lies and will continue to lie”.
So while Nazario is concentrating with his team playing the Copa América in Bolivia, Inter arrives on 20 from June to an agreement with his lawyers and thus proceeds to pay the termination clause of 4.000 The then president (24 millions of euros), that in theory free the player, but that the Spanish Federation ends up denying, since he understands that Barça must receive more money as a transfer.
A whole mess that ends up belatedly resolved by FIFA on 10 September and that dictates Ronaldo's move to Inter for 270 additional million in transfer. Something that the Barcelona directive finished abiding, although he disagreed with the amount of compensation.
The Brazilian left like this with sorrow and with glory of the azulgrana squad, leaving the skin for the shirt and an indelible mark on all the culé fans.
