Brazilian football idols join forces to revitalize São Paulo’s interior football!
The football world is buzzing with news that promises to reshape the future of clubs in São Paulo’s interior. Roberto Carlos, the legendary left-back and five-time World Cup winner, has confirmed his participation in the acquisition project for Inter de Limeira, currently leading the Brazilian Serie C. But the news goes further: he won’t be alone. The eternal Ronaldo Fenômeno, another sports icon, is also part of the investment group aiming to transform the club.
Roberto Carlos’s statement in an interview with the Wamo channel’s “Debate em Jogo” program was direct and full of passion: “Ronaldo and I are buying Inter de Limeira now, along with Enrico and two of our partners, one African and one Arab. In other words, we will gradually re-enter interior football so that, in addition to having great players going to the national team, we can reorganize these clubs.” His remarks highlight a deep desire to restore the strength and relevance of football outside the major centers.
A Visionary Project for Inter de Limeira
The initiative is spearheaded by executive Enrico Ambrogini, a name with vast experience in the SAF (Football Anonymous Societies) market. With significant stints at Cruzeiro and Spain’s Valladolid, alongside Ronaldo, Ambrogini previously served as CEO of Internacional de Limeira itself between 2019 and 2021. The plan he presented, now endorsed by Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo, is ambitious: a total investment of R$ 454 million over ten years.
The primary goal is clear: to return the Limeira-based team to the elite of Brazilian football, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, within eight seasons. For the first two years (2026-2027), the projected investment is R$ 20 million, allocated to strengthening the professional team, investing in youth academies, administrative and technological modernization, in addition to improvements in physical infrastructure.
Reconstruction and Historical Revival
Inter de Limeira is going through a crucial period of reconstruction. In addition to leading Serie C, the club aims for promotion to the Paulistão elite next season. Founded in 1913, the team has a glorious past, with the 1986 Paulistão title – being the first club from the interior to achieve this feat – and the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B in 1988. The expectation is that the new management can revive some of that glory.
Roberto Carlos, by the way, has already shown a special fondness for interior football, citing União São João and the desire to study other clubs to attract sponsors and rekindle the spirit of football from the past. This partnership between past stars and experienced executives signals a promising future, not just for Inter de Limeira, but for São Paulo’s interior football as a whole, reigniting the flame of Guts, Love, and Passion!
