SPAIN: SOCCER - RONALDO'S WIFE DOMINGUES COMES TO AN UNUSAL ARRANGEMENT AFTER HER HUSBAND'S MOVE TO REAL MADRID

Record ID: 184350

  • Title: SPAIN: SOCCER - RONALDO'S WIFE DOMINGUES COMES TO AN UNUSAL ARRANGEMENT AFTER HER HUSBAND'S MOVE TO REAL MADRID
  • Date: 28th September 2002
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 26, 2002) (RERUTERS) 1. EXTERIOR RAYO VALLECANO'S VALLECAS STADIUM 2. SIGN WITH CLUB'S PRESIDENT NAME TERESA RIVERO WRITTEN ON IT 3. PAN ACROSS PITCH 4. PHOTOGRAPHERS 4. MILENE DOMINGUES KICKING BALL AND CONTROLLING IT 5. MILENE POSING WITH BALL 6. MILENE KEEPING THE BALL UP WITH OUTSIDE OF HER FEET 7. MILENE SPINNING BALL WITH HER FINGERS 8. MILENE LEAVES PITCH 9. PHOTOGRAPHERS 10. MILENE GETS INTO PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM 11. MILENE SMILING 12. CAMERAMEN 13. WIDE PRESS CONFERENCE 14. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MILENE DOMINGUES, GIVIN THE REASONS WHY SHE JOINED VALLECANO, SAYS: "Firstly, because they have a woman as president. This helps me a little bit because everyone knows about the problem that I found first here and it is still not solved, that I cannot play because the Spanish Federation do not allow foreigners to play in their women's league here." 15. WIDE PRESS CONFERENCE 16. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MILENE DOMINGUES CONTINUES TO SPEAK "And I hope that I would be able to play here because our agreement is to train with Ray Vallecano and continue (to play) in the Italian championship. So, I will still be playing in the Italian championship until the Spanish Federation give me the go ahead for me, as a foreign mother, could play here in Spain." 17. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) MILENE DOMINGUES, TALKING ABOUT RONALDO'S INFLUENCE, SAYS: "All decisions I take in life, I always like to listen to Ronaldo's opinion because for me family is a very important thing and if he agrees (with my decisions) it is much better. So anything I have to decide, on a professional or personal level, it has Ronaldo's support." 18. REPORTERS 19. MILENE STANDS UP AND SMILES Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVA8D97CFNCB2N0CKNOKFXKZYK78
  • Story Text: Ronaldo's wife Milene Domingues has come to an unusual
    arrangement after her husband's move to Real Madrid.

    Domingues, who is also a footballer, is barred for
    playing in Spain, where foreigners are not allowed in the
    women's league. Because of that, she will be training and making
    appearances for Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish captial while
    travelling every week to play for Monza in the Italian women's
    league.

    Rayo Vallecano, founded in 1924, are less wealthy and
    famous in comparison to their richer neighbours Atletico and
    Real Madrid.

    But now the minnows of the Spanish captial have managed
    to pull off a transfer coup by announcing the signing of
    Milene Domingues, better known as Mrs Ronaldo.

    The fact that Real has a woman, Teresa Rivero,
    influenced Domingues' decision to join the club on a unique
    deal.

    As foreigners are not allowed to play in the Spanish
    women's league, the 22 year-old Brazilian will only be
    training and appearing in friendlies matches for Vallecano.

    Explaining why she decided to join the Spanish club,
    Domingues said: "Firstly, because they have a woman as
    president. This helps me a little bit because everyone knows
    about the problem that I found first here -- and it is still
    not solved -- that I cannot play because the Spanish
    Federation do not allow foreigners to play in their women's
    league here."
    The deal would allow Ronaldo's wife to keep playing for
    Monza in the Italian women's league while she tries to change
    the ruling that closes the door for foreign to play in Spain.

    "The agreement is to train with Ray Vallecano and
    continue (to play) in the Italian championship. So, I will
    still be playing in the Italian championship until the Spanish
    Federation gives me the go ahead for me, as a foreign mother,
    could play here in Spain," she explained to reporters.

    The Brazilian also said that her decision to join
    Vallecano had the full approval of her husband.

    "All decisions I take in life, I always like to listen
    to Ronaldo's opinion because for me family is a very important
    thing and if he agrees (with my decisions) it is much better.

    So anything I have to decide, on a professional or personal
    level, it has Ronaldo's support."
    The European transfer window may be closed but Spanish club
    Rayo Vallecano still managed to Rayo, the third biggest club
    in Madrid, unveilled the 22-year-old Brazilian for their women's
    team on Thursday (September 26) after winning the race to sign
    her on a contract running until the end of the season.

    The move opens up the prospect of divided loyalties in the
    Ronaldo household with her famous husband having signed for
    Real Madrid from Inter Milan before the start of the season.

    Former model Domingues, who married Ronaldo in 1999, hd
    been playing in midfield for Serie A women's side Monza.


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