Story · FC Barcelona
The day 'waiter' Joan Gaspart signed Ronaldo for Barcelona
This article recounts the 30th anniversary of FC Barcelona's signing of Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazário de Lima in July 1996. Then vice-president Joan Gaspart faced an impossible mission to secure the player, who was locked away with the Brazilian national team in a Miami hotel ahead of the Atlanta Olympics. With a 15-day deadline from PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan also interested, Gaspart and his team could not reach Ronaldo due to heavy security. In a bizarre turn, Gaspart disguised himself as a waiter carrying a Coca-Cola tray, tricked the bodyguards, entered Ronaldo's room, and closed the contract on the bed. The deal, worth 2.550 billion pesetas (over 15 million euros), was the most expensive transfer at the time.
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