The Swans have stepped up their recruitment drive over the past five days and are hopeful to bring in two players before the summer window ends next Monday at 11pm UK time. That news comes to us as it also looks like Ronald could leave this week.
Ronald (below) cut a lone figure yesterday as he applauded an almost empty stadium after the 0-0 draw with Sheffield United. He also looked somewhat displeased as he ripped up a piece of paper and threw it in the direction of Gonçalo Franco who is currently injured and unavailable to play. We have been told there has been discussions with Swans head coach, Vitor Matos which have prompted Ronald’s agent Fabio Mello at FMS Gestão Esportiva to ensure clubs are aware on the position of the Swansea player.
Clubs in Portugal have been alerted as well as across the EU with a decision made that Ronald is surplus to requirements at the Swans. The retention of Eom plus new arrivals, Joseph Opoku and Moussa Yeo place them all ahead of the Brazilian over the past two league games. You could potentially add Elijah Just to that list although he is currently being deployed in an attacking midfield role. Ronald’s salary won’t put any club off, he is on the lower pay scales at the club, but the asking price would need negotiation. The other information we have is that the club would accept a million pounds for him to leave. Ronald now needs to find a club that will play him as per Florian Bianchini a player with a far higher salary pay scale. That is the issue, will any club be interested ? If not he stays at Swansea.
He has a year left on his contract with a club option, that could reduce his price dramatically.
As with Bianchini people were employed by the club to enable Ronald to come to Swansea. We have already mentioned Mello his personal agent, but the Swans for some reason also employed Dan Bowyer a FIFA licensed agent to perform the same role as Mello on their behalf, and not for the first time. Basically Mello represented both Ronald and the Swans in the deal with Bowyer also representing the Swans. Some will recall Ronald being owned by a consortium in Brazil and irregularities with that as we reported at the time. Basically, The biggest complication was who actually owned the economic interest in the player. Ronald was playing for Estrela da Amadora in Portugal, but he was there on loan from Brazilian club Grêmio Anápolis. Swansea therefore bought him from Grêmio rather than Estrela.
News outlet, ‘A Bola’ reported the transfer at €1.5m and said Estrela held 25% of Ronald’s economic rights, entitling them to €375,000. Another outlet called, ‘Record’ put the overall deal in the €1.5m–€2m range and similarly reported that Estrela’s 25% interest would produce roughly €500,000. It wasn’t straight forward. But why employ Dan Bowyer at a time when the Swans were doing so for a lot of transfers ? You can add the names of Ulisses Jorge and Rui Gonçalves as also involved in the transfer on behalf of Gremio.
Quick sand ahead !
That leaves the caveats in the deal when Ronald signed. We have been told the rights to Ronald and all aspects of his transfer meant the Swans purchased Ronald in totality. That means there is unlikely a sell on clause. However, caveats will most certainly be imposed should he leave before the window closes. It is a shame for Ronald, his overall consistency is poor when attacking the opposition, his delivery into those dangerous areas was limited, but he was successful at times. We can all potentially vouch for his defensive work which is slowly being impressed upon Yeo and Opoku. Ronald most certainly was contributing more than we have seen from those two new signings.
A slow walk alone around a stadium that was hardly packed was sad to see, he walked around all ends applauding. That does signify an end to his time at the Swans coupled with our information. He had some good times at the club especially in his first season but we are two years down the road, and there’s been a slow decline over that period. Should he go we wish him well.
Keep up with all of our player interest stories over the next nine days, we will as ever keep you all informed and indeed with full context as you have read today. Thanks for your support and for supporting the Brain Tumour Charity.
Catch up with our Bianchini exclusive
⚽️ Bianchini millions
Cabango injury photo
⚽️ Cabango blow
⚽️ Yesterdays full match report
Swans 0 Blades 0
And of course that exclusive report on Ronald from two years ago
⚽️ Ronald ownership issues
The internet is a great time stamp 👍