RONALDO ADMITS TO NIKE INTERFERENCE
Nike ploughed around £50 million into Brazilian football and it was this deal that many observers believed forced Ronaldo to play in the 1998 World Cup final against France, when the striker was clearly unfit.
Various reports as to what did happen to the Inter star hours before the game have sprung up, indeed as part of an on-going review of Brazilian football, the country's football federation (CBF) held an investigation into the events leading up to the 3-0 defeat in Paris.
Ronaldo revealed that there is a clause in his contract that means he has to play for his country once every two years, to avoid the deal becoming null and void. His last appearance for Brazil was on October 9 1999 against Holland, although he has already said it is unlikely he will play against Chile.
Where this leaves the samba star contractually is unknown, but with a return to fitness in the offing, a renegotiation could be in the offing.
Ronaldo said: "This clause exists, but my relation with Nike is not only professional. Confidence between the two parties exists."
The 25-year-old has been training with the rest of the Brazilian squad in Curitiba and could make a surprise appearance on the bench for the game against Chile. However, a minor strain to his leg has left coach Luiz Felipe Scolari with a major doubt before the game on October 7.
At the time of his selection in the squad, many members of the Brazilian media were united with public opinion in the country - that picking Ronaldo was 'suspicious'. The CBF has stated that his call-up was to boost the morale of both the player, the fans and his team-mates, but rumours will continue to plague Brazil, especially with the value of the Nike contract at stake.
