Ronaldo, the Brazilian football icon and owner of Real Valladolid, celebrated the club's return to La Liga after a tense final-day showdown in the second division. Valladolid clinched promotion with a 3-0 home victory over Huesca, while Eibar's 1-0 loss to Alcorcon confirmed their relegation. Almeria, purchased by Saudi Arabian businessman Turki al-Sheikh in 2019, finished top of the table after a 2-2 draw against Leganes, earning their first La Liga return since the 2014-2015 campaign.
The promotion came after a challenging campaign marked by pandemic-related disruptions. Ronaldo, who played for PSV Eindhoven, Inter Milan, and AC Milan between 1994 and 2008, purchased a 51% stake in Valladolid in 2018 when the club was still in La Liga. 'It was a complicated season, with a pandemic and all,' he said. 'This is incredible. We worked hard and fought, and even though we suffered until the last minute, we achieved the goal of returning to the first division.'
Las Palmas, Tenerife, and Girona secured playoff spots, while Eibar remains in contention for the final promotion berth. Valladolid's return follows four consecutive seasons in the second division prior to the 2018-19 campaign. Ronaldo joined players on the field after the victory, praising the squad, coaching staff, and fans. 'We have to enjoy it. We are back where we deserve to be,' he added.
