Ronaldo's Valladolid bid welcomed by mayor

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Valladolid mayor Oscar Puente would welcome the arrival of Ronaldo to Real Valladolid as the club owner.

A two-time World Cup winner with Brazil and a Real Madrid ambassador, Ronaldo is the leader of an investment group that is set to acquire a 51 percent stake at the La Liga club for €30 million.

"He is a sports world icon and the operation seems interesting," Puente said following reports of Ronaldo's imminent purchase of Real Valladolid in AS. "Along with Michael Jordan, he is the only person that has a lifetime contract with Nike. It would bring a lot of value to Valladolid."

Ronaldo is reportedly going to arrive at Valladolid on Monday and the acquisition is going to be made official in the next 24 hours, with both sides having waited until the international break to complete the takeover. Diario de Valladolid report that the deal has been in place since May and would only go ahead if the club gained promotion to La Liga, something they achieved in June.

Valladolid, whose current president Carlos Suarez owns 66 percent of the club's shares, has a reported debt of €25m. According to reports, Ronaldo, 42, would become Valladolid president with Suarez taking over a delegate role.

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Suarez reportedly has better offers from China and Latin America to buy the club but it's Ronaldo's bid that most interests the club. Puente says he has "full confidence" in the decisions that Suarez is carrying out at the club.

"He is searching for financial and sporting stability as well as looking out for the interests of our city," he said of Suarez last week. "With his defects and virtues, his 17 years in charge of the club endorse him and I'm calm knowing that he is taking the decision regarding the club."

Valladolid were recently in hot water after La Liga opened a disciplinary case regarding the state of their Jose Zorilla stadium pitch in their 1-0 defeat to Spanish champions Barcelona on Aug. 25. Though they laid a new pitch for their first home league game since gaining promotion, Suarez admitted after the game the condition of the turf was not up to La Liga standards and would accept a fine if given.

Valladolid have drawn two of their three opening games but are still seeking their first win heading into their home game against Alaves on Sept. 16.

Source: espn.co.uk