Romário's scandals, the fleeting and controversial star of Barça and Valencia
Última modificación February 16, 2024 by Drafting Fesp
It was only two seasons, but they were enough for Romário, better known as “The Shorty” due to his short stature, will leave a mark on Barça.
The Brazilian forward arrived at the culé team in July 1993, after the FC Barcelona and the PSV will agree to its transfer for the value of 5 millions of dollars. Just arrived, Romário He showed all his quality and scoring ability, winning the Pichichi Trophy with 30 goals and giving it a League to the culés. He seemed to be the best footballer of the moment and a leader called to lengthen the shadow of the legendary ‘Dream Team’, but his time in Barcelona ended up being as fleeting as it was explosive.. Similar to the one who would star Ronaldo Nazario a couple of years later.
Romario and the scandals: Controversies always accompanied him
After conquering the world of 1994 and introduce yourself 21 days late for training with the Barcelona team, Romário decided to end his time in Europe and, por ende, at Barça. I wanted to return to Brazil, receive tributes and continue with that life of partying and excess that had little to do with top-level football.
In fact, at FC Barcelona They even hired a private detective to monitor his busy nightlife.. It's more, in an interview himself Johan Cruyff, trainer Romário by then, He confessed that he once agreed to let him travel to Brazil to some carnivals if he scored two goals in a game.
But the most surprising of all things related to the Brazilian came during his time in the Valencia, just because, after leaving the Barça and play in the ranks of Flamengo, Romário decided to return to League Spanish to wear the shirt of the Ché team.
In Mestalla, The attacker had serious clashes with Luis Aragones, coach who did not like the attitude of a footballer who continued to party. It's more, Jorge Valdano, who took the baton from the Valencian bench, confessed in the magazine 'Magazine' that Romário He had a clause in his contract that allowed him to go out at night until whatever time he wanted..
Seeing is believing, truth? Romário, who came to confess that there will not be a better striker than him in the history of this sport, He had a spectacular career but perhaps he could have even gone much further if he had been more professional..
He didn't give up a fight either.
During his career, Romario never gave up a good fight. We could see him giving a flying kick in the match 3 October 1995 of the Libertadores Super Cup between Flamengo and Vélez. The day Edmundo took a punch from Zandoná, Argentine team player.
A year before, He also became famous for his tremendous punch to Cholo Simeone who was almost knocked out in a Sevilla-Barça match played at the Pizjuán. Romario and Cholo were stiff when in a corner, The Brazilian decided to take justice into his own hands by dealing a tremendous blow to the Argentine. And if that was not enough, in 2003 when he was rushing his football career at 37 years in Fluminense, He went up to the stands of the Flu training camp to hit a fan who had thrown some chickens onto the field in protest.
Mythical was also his heated talk with Luis Aragonés in 1996 in training with Valencia. where El Sabio told the Brazilian to look clearly into his eyes. And Luis, Nobody in the world of football intimidated him.
After retiring, the controversies did not stop
His controversies did not stop after his retirement as a footballer.. He ended up in court with Zico, He became a politician, reaching the position of senator in Rio and was highly criticized in 2021 for his lifestyle that was different from that of the vast majority of the population of Rio de Janeiro. He argued with his faithful friend over political issues and in case Romario did not have enough scandals, a few years before he hooked up with his daughter's friend that I had 31 years younger than him.
