Did Nike Interfere With Ronaldo’s Return to Brazil?

By: Daryl | January 14th, 2009

That’s the question Flamengo wants answered, and I don’t blame them. Ronaldo apparently always wanted to play for Flamengo, then spent about three months rehabilitating with them and then inexplicably snubbed them.

So Flamego wants to know if the reason Ronaldo eventually signed with rivals Corinthians instead had anything to with the swoosh people interfering.

They’ve asked exactly that in a letter to Nike (Google Translated version here) and are refusing to renew their agreement with the ~~sweatshop profiteers?~~ sports goods company unless they get some answers.

The idea that Nike was involved somehow isn’t a huge shock. They sponsor Corinthians, Flamengo and Ronaldo himself, so we all know the swoosh holds some sway.

But do they hold enough sway to determine where a players goes? I hope not, because if they do then football is basically – and please pardon my possible over-reaction here – ruined.

It also raises the question… how much of this goes on? For example, is it just a co-incidence that David Beckham signed up with adidas and then went from Real Marid (three stripe team) to LA Galaxy (three stripe team) to AC Milan (three stripe team)? Or am I seeing conspiracies where there aren’t any?

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Magnusson

Nike has been doing it for years. Romario, ROnaldo, LEonardo, and more recently Ronaldinho coming to PSG then to BArcelona was a deal that NIKE had something to do with. They were paying a huge part of his salary when he was in PAris and even got sued and lost the lawsuit because of that here. But by that time Ronadinho already left.
Nike basically has no respect for this game but that's nothing new.
Lissette Evil Blue

the proyect 40 thing I remember dammed NIKE. Proyect 40 its something I can be the sponsor with a name like that. no surprise ADI took over :)
jayslick

@ Lissette Evil Blue

nike did, they were the first to do it, at least with the youth with what is now Gen Addidas. Originally if was P40 and Nike was the original Co. Adidas just outbid them
Jack

Here's a somewhat more natural "English" translation of the letter:

Dear Sirs,
As you know, Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, a club also sponsored by you, has contracted the player Ronaldo de Lima Luís Nazário, who until a few weeks ago was rehabilitating in our facilities, and who expressed explicit interest in playing for Flamengo. With regard to your notification of your interest in the extension of our contractual relationship, this serves to request that you declare formally and under the penalty of law, whether Nike interfered in any way in the contract of said player by Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, and if so, on what basis.
Marcio Braga
Lissette Evil Blue

@ JOE Aren’t all MLS teams sponsored by adidas? yes Joe Adidas does. In fact they have an agreement to help develop football (THE MLS) in the USA, wich I think is something that NIKE should have done since their a US based CO.
bobby_digital

this doesnt make alot of sense since both clubs are nike sponsored.. there's gotta be more to this story.

and this wouldnt be the first time Nike has 'brokered' a deal for ronaldo. Im pretty sure the reason he specifically went to Inter from Barca, was because of Inter's Nike sponsorship. Barca wasnt Nike sponsored at the time. Also I think AC milan had a better offer for Ronaldo instead of Inter or they atleast showed alot of interest. But since they were sponsored by Adidas or maybe even lotto at the time, Inter 'became' the front runners
shehan

from what i've heard. adidas is paying beckham's salary during his time with milan.
Joe

Aren't all MLS teams sponsored by adidas?
j

In a simple answer "yes" and Nike doesn't have a "small influence" but a major one and far bigger than what the mainstream media will publish.

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