Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho is making an ambitious move into basketball, reportedly submitting an official offer to acquire AS Monaco Basketball as the French club battles serious financial difficulties.
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner has teamed up with Andorran investment fund Clayton Sport in a proposed takeover that could see about pound 10 million invested in Monaco each season over a three-to-five-year period.
According to French newspaper L’Équipe, Ronaldinho and Clayton Sport submitted a letter of intent to Monaco’s management on Monday, putting the football icon at the centre of a potential rescue of one of European basketball’s most prominent clubs.
Ronaldinho moves beyond football
At 46, Ronaldinho could take on a substantially more active role than that of a celebrity ambassador if the takeover succeeds.
Reports indicate that the former Barcelona and AC Milan star could personally invest in the project and participate in the club’s future operations.
The proposed investment comes as Monaco faces mounting financial challenges and searches for new ownership capable of stabilising its finances and preserving its position in elite European basketball.
The immediate priority for Ronaldinho’s group would be to address the club’s outstanding financial obligations.
The proposal reportedly includes repayment of around pound 2.5 million owed to the EuroLeague, alongside a pound 5 million bank guarantee required by France’s financial regulator, the DNCCG.
Beyond resolving those immediate liabilities, the group is considering a longer-term commitment that could provide Monaco with approximately pound 10 million per season for between three and five years.
If completed, the deal would mark a significant transition for Ronaldinho from global football icon to sports investor, giving him a stake in one of Europe’s leading basketball properties.
Ronaldinho faces NBA-backed rival
Ronaldinho’s group is not the only consortium seeking control of Monaco Basketball.
Helen Holdings, a consortium backed by former NBA star Jamal Mashburn, is also in negotiations with the club.
Those discussions are reportedly at an advanced stage, creating a competitive race for ownership at a time when Monaco urgently needs fresh capital.
The club had initially targeted August 14 for an agreement, although the financial and sporting implications of the ownership process could extend beyond that date.
Financial crisis threatens Monaco’s basketball future
The ownership battle comes against the backdrop of a serious financial crisis that has already affected Monaco’s sporting status.
The club has been excluded from France’s top division for the 2026/27 season because of its financial situation and intends to challenge the decision through the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).
Monaco has until August 18 to submit its appeal
Securing a financially credible investor is therefore critical to the club’s immediate future. A takeover would not simply change Monaco’s ownership structure but could determine whether the team remains competitive at the highest level.
From EuroCup success to European powerhouse
The urgency contrasts sharply with Monaco’s rapid rise in European basketball.
Founded in 1928, AS Monaco Basketball experienced its biggest transformation during the past decade, culminating in the club establishing itself as a major force in European competition.
Monaco won the EuroCup in 2021 before progressing into the EuroLeague and challenging Europe’s elite clubs.
The club’s rise has made its current financial difficulties particularly significant for European basketball, with potential investors being asked to protect both its sporting ambitions and commercial value.
For Ronaldinho, the proposed takeover would represent a dramatic expansion of his involvement in the sports business.