Footballers want to be repatriated too!! Is it worth it to earn a bit less but to enjoy life with childhood friends and family? Is it worth it to earn a bit less but to enjoy life with childhood friends and family?
Don't even ask: I am not going to repatriate myself, yet...
The Ronaldo Effect: They All Want To Be Like Him,
May 06, 2009
Brought together to meet Equador and Peru for the World Cup qualifiers, Brazilian players huddle and chat about how wonderful it is for Ronaldo to be playing in Brazil. A debate gets going as to whether or not it's worth coming back to Brazil from Europe before getting to 30 years of age.
Is it worth it to earn a bit less but to enjoy life with childhood friends and family?
The final whistle of the qualifying matches goes and immediately Adriano announces that he will not be returning to Inter Milan and Europe. Could this be the "Ronaldo effect" in action?
Word is that Ronaldinho and Robinho are also thinking along similar lines. Ronaldo spreads the word that life is good.
"The Sao Paulo night life is great and I'm only 40 minutes by plane from Rio de Janeiro," he tells his friends by phone.
People close to Adriano have affirmed that Ronaldo's example played a part in his decision to trade Inter Milan for Flamengo and also trade the European leagues for the Brazilian championship.
Members of staff connected with Ronaldinho and Robinho have said, "Both dream of returning to Brazil with the same intensity with which once dreamt of leaving."
However the stumbling block for these two are the monumental contract fines which bind them. Wagner Ribeiro, who once worked for Robinho until his move to Manchester City describes the Ronaldo effect like this:
"Ronaldo showed the gang that you can return early and enjoy life back home".
Julio Mariz, the president of Traffic, talks of positive numbers back home: "I think the players really think about coming home early. Nowadays you can easily earn $75K a month playing in Brazil, there are some who earn $150K."
Ronaldo earns $200K tax free playing in Brazil. This figure can hit as high as almost $900K a month from shares in Corinthian's sponsorship funds.
Robinho, who has another three years to serve out his contract with Manchester City, earns about $700K a month. Robinho managed to triple what he earned at Real Madrid but is as unhappy with Manchester City as the club is with him no doubt.
Evandro Souza, a member of Robinho's staff, says Robinho's wish is to return to Santos but right now it is impossible. As far as Ronaldinho goes, well comments by his manager sums it all up.
"Brother, we're just fine ... there are 30 million Euros in play here!" said Ronaldinho's brother/manager Assis.
Ronaldino, just like Robinho and Adriano, also dreams of coming home but money, contracts and his brother seem to get in the way. One way or the other it seems the scene is set for some changes in world football as the Ronaldo effect grabs hold of Brazilians all over the world. |
