Ronaldo Nazario is perhaps better known from his time at Real Madrid, but the Brazil legend was also once on the books of rivals FC Barcelona. He has now revealed why he cut ties with the Catalan giants.
Former Brazil international Ronaldo represented the Blaugrana in the 1996/97 campaign, famously scoring 47 goals in 49 appearances and earning the first of his two Ballon d'Or titles.
His stay at the club lasted only a solitary season before he joined Serie A giants Inter Milan, before making a sensational move to Barca's rivals Real Madrid five years later.
The 43-year-old has now revealed how failed contract negotiations and a perceived lack of appreciation from Barcelona prompted his decision to leave the club.
"I was about to sign my contract extension (with Barcelona) after the end of the season and then went to Brazil on vacation," Ronaldo told DAZN, as reported by Managing Madrid.
"Then they called me five days later to tell me that the extension couldn't happen. It was never my call, I wanted to stay.
"If the club didn't value me the way they should have, it wasn't my decision. I would've loved to stay, but as I say, it wasn't my call."
Ronaldo, who would later play for the likes of AC Milan and Corinthians, also revealed that joining Real had always been a life-long dream of his.
