Fans protest against Ronaldo's ownership amid poor performance at Real Valladolid

In Spain, the struggling La Liga club Real Valladolid is grappling with significant discontent from its supporters, primarily aimed at the club's owner, former Brazilian football star Ronaldo. Since taking ownership in 2018, Ronaldo has overseen challenging seasons, and the current 2024-25 season has proven particularly difficult for the team, which finds itself at the bottom of the league after only securing nine points from 15 matches. The frustration came to a head during a recent march by fans to the stadium ahead of a match against Atletico Madrid, where protest signs calling for Ronaldo to 'go home' were visibly displayed both outside and within the venue. The team's performance against Atletico was dismal, culminating in a 3-0 loss, which further fueled the discontent among the fanbase. Following the match, Valladolid made the decision to part ways with head coach Paulo Pezzolano, signaling a significant shift in strategy as they face the threat of relegation. In an attempt to address the fans' concerns and the team's dire situation, the club announced that Ronaldo would personally contribute financially to improve the squad's salary cap, indicating his commitment to turning the club's fortunes around. However, with recurring disappointing results, including only one victory since the season began, the pressure on Ronaldo continues to mount as he seeks to find a solution to restore both stability and confidence within the club ahead of a crucial fixture against Las Palmas on December 8. The tension is palpable as fans await tangible changes to the roster and coaching staff to salvage the remainder of the season and hopefully avoid relegation.