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RENALDO LOPES DA CRUZ
Date of Birth: 19 March, 1970
Nationality: Brazil (international)
Period at Deportivo: 1996/1997 (winter) - 2000/2001 (winter)
Transfer: ca. €1,9 million (1996, Atlético Mineiro)
Clubs: Palmeiras (2004), Paraná, América, Extremadura, Lleida (2001), Las Palmas (1998-2000, loan), Corinthians (1997, loan), Deportivo (1996-2000), Atlético Mineiro
Sold: Free Transfer (2001, Lleida)
Height: 171 cm
Weight: 64 kg
Position: Attacker (central)
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 The years between 1996 and 1998 were the height of the Brazilian presence in La Coruña, but striker RENALDO may have been the least known of them. The short, but fast moving forward, was 26-years old when he joined the club during the winter months of the season 1996/1997. But the fact that Deportivo signed Abreu, Bassir, Luizão and ‘Manteca’ Martínez within one year after Renaldo’s arrival already indicates that his time at Deportivo cannot be considered a success.
French striker Madar had been given the striking position for the 1996/1997 campaign, during which Rivaldo occupied headlines. But the performances of Madar didn’t convince coach Toshack, and the club also tried youngsters David, Deus and Maikel that campaign. But none of them proved to be capable of succeeding Bebeto. Well, who could have?
Renaldo, who just had made his debut in the Brazilian national team at the time, was signed near the end of 1996 and promised to have “the best of Bebeto and all the best of Romario”. He cost the club almost €2 million and together with another Brazilian addition, Flávio Conceiçao, made his Liga debut on 4 January, 1997 during the 0-1 loss against Barcelona. The fact that defender Hélder had debuted one week earlier, and goalkeeper Nuno was added too, indicate that those days there was a lot of movement on the transfer market. But the loss against the Catalans, the first of that campaign, was the start of some difficult months. For Renaldo, and for Deportivo too.
The opportunistic forward was booked for diving in that match and produced his first goal during the Copa match against Sevilla on 15 January, 1997. His first Liga goal he scored three and a half weeks later: on 9 February, 1997 in a much disputed 2-2 draw in Riazor against Celta de Vigo. He then refrained from scoring against Hércules, Betis and Rayo Vallecano before scoring two goals against Oviedo (3-0). It was to be the highlight of Renaldo at Deportivo, although he would play the remaining fourteen matches of that campaign. All of them he started, but he only managed to add two more goals: against Racing de Santander and Valencia.
His amount of goals, five in half a Liga season, was disappointing while Deportivo managed to secure the third position only on goaldifference against Betis Sevilla. The first part of the 1996/1997 season had been excellent, but the remainder of the season (with Renaldo) was a difficult time. Deportivo survived on Rivaldo’s goal, and when the magician didn’t score the team suffered intensely. Renaldo hadn’t lived up to his words. Besides, he lost both his father and mother during his time at Deportivo and, understandably, didn’t seem hundred percent focussed on playing football.
Renaldo would not score another goal in the shirt of Deportivo after his one against Valencia in May, 1997. As said before, Luizão and Bassir were major signings that summer and Renaldo was given permission to return to Brazil and was loaned out to Corintians. He scored eleven Liga goals for them, but a return to Deportivo was blocked because the club bought Abreu, ‘Manteca’ Martínez, Pauleta and ‘Turu’ Flores in the meantime. Renaldo was loaned out for two seasons to Segunda División club Las Palmas, and in January 2001 went on a free transfer to Lleida.
This looked to be a an almost 30-year old player having a down going career. After Lleida, the striker signed at Extremadura in Spain and Mexico’s América, before arriving at Brazilian club Panará. And there he suddenly flourished in the year 2003. Being 33-years old, he produced thirty goals for them that year and finished vice-topscorer of Brazil; he scored more than Sao Paulo talent Luis Fabiano (who finished at 29). In July, 2004 it earned him a transfer to big club Palmeiras.
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