Ronaldo reveals Barcelona’s last-minute change of heart behind 1997 Inter Milan move

Ronaldo has revealed that a sudden reversal by Barcelona’s board ended his hopes of staying at the club in 1997, despite an agreement having apparently been reached over a new contract.

The Brazil legend spent only one season at Barcelona, but says he was happy at the Catalan club and expected to continue there. According to Ronaldo, representatives of Barcelona contacted him to confirm that terms had been settled and that he would remain with the club.

However, his relationship with Barcelona deteriorated within days after the club changed its position and told him he could leave if another side paid the required release clause.

Speaking in comments published by Spanish newspaper Sport, Ronaldo said: “I was happy in Barcelona. My agent was there and, in the end, they reached an agreement.”

He added: “They called me at the time and said to me: ‘Look, we have an agreement. You will stay with us on a new contract at Barcelona. We are very happy and Barcelona is happy.’”

Ronaldo said the situation changed dramatically only three days later.

“After three days they called me and said: ‘Look, we cannot sign this contract with you. If you have the opportunity to leave, you only have to bring the money needed to pay the release clause and then you can leave,’” he said.

The former Brazil forward explained that Barcelona’s change of approach left him deeply disappointed and convinced him that he should look for a way out of the club.

“I said to them: ‘Look, I no longer feel comfortable continuing with Barcelona, because these people do not stand by their word. So I want to leave,’” Ronaldo said.

Inter Milan then made the move possible by paying Barcelona what Ronaldo believes was a fee of about 40m euros. He described the amount as enormous at the time.

“Inter Milan came in. They paid Barcelona, I think the amount was 40m euros at the time, and it was an enormous amount of money. That is how I left for the Italian team,” he said.

Ronaldo’s account places the breakdown in his relationship with Barcelona at the centre of his departure, rather than a desire to leave after an unhappy season. He said he had initially been prepared to stay after receiving assurances that a new agreement would be completed.

Instead, the club’s decision to withdraw from that proposed contract opened the way for his move to Inter Milan. The transfer brought his single season at Barcelona to an end in 1997, after the player concluded that he could no longer remain comfortable at the club because of what he regarded as a failure to honour its commitment.