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| Roberto de Assis Moreira | |
|---|---|
| Name | Roberto de Assis Moreira |
| Birth date | 10 January 1970 |
| Birth place | Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Occupation | Footballer; Agent; Businessman |
| Known for | Football career; Management of Neymar |
Roberto de Assis Moreira is a Brazilian former professional football player and sports agent noted for his midfield career in South America and Europe and for his later role managing the career of Neymar. Born in Porto Alegre in 1970, he played for clubs across Brazil, Switzerland, Portugal, France, and Japan before transitioning to player management and business interests connected to Santos FC and FC Barcelona transfers. He is also the brother of Ronaldinho Gaúcho and has been involved in high-profile legal and financial controversies connected to international transfers and taxation.
Assis was born in Porto Alegre in Rio Grande do Sul and raised in a family that included notable footballers such as Ronaldinho. His early development occurred at youth setups including Grêmio and local academies that fed talent to clubs like Internacional and Sport Club Internacional. During adolescence he moved through regional competitions such as the Campeonato Gaúcho and tournaments organized by the Brazilian Football Confederation (then known as CBF), attracting attention from scouts associated with European teams including FC Basel and Portuguese clubs like S.L. Benfica and FC Porto.
Assis began his senior career with Brazilian clubs including Grêmio FBPA and CR Vasco da Gama before transfers to Europe where he featured for clubs in Switzerland and Portugal. In Portugal he played in the Primeira Liga against sides like Sporting CP and FC Porto, and in France he competed in Ligue 1 fixtures versus Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais. His career also included a stint in Japan in competitions organized by the J.League involving matches with Kashima Antlers and Urawa Red Diamonds. Across continental tournaments he encountered opponents from the UEFA Cup and regional competitions tied to clubs such as Sevilla FC, AC Milan, Real Madrid CF, and FC Barcelona. Assis’s playing style as a midfielder saw him involved in fixtures with national teams at youth levels connected to the Brazil national under-20 football team and regional representative matches involving selectors from CONMEBOL tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores.
Following retirement Assis became an agent and advisor, founding management entities that negotiated high-profile transfers involving Santos FC and FC Barcelona. He played a central role in the transfer of Neymar from Santos FC to FC Barcelona and in dealings that spanned La Liga negotiations with clubs including Atlético Madrid and interactions with investment groups from Qatar and United Arab Emirates that have stakes in clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City. His post-playing career involved contracts, endorsements and sponsorship agreements with brands and associations such as Nike, Adidas, and media partners that work with Globo and ESPN. Assis acted as both agent and business partner in ventures linked to FIFA regulations and disputes arising under the jurisdiction of bodies like the Court of Arbitration for Sport and national federations such as the Brazilian Football Confederation.
Assis is part of a family prominent in Brazilian sport and entertainment, with siblings including Ronaldinho Gaúcho and relationships that connect him to figures in business and media across São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. He has maintained residences associated with municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul and investments in properties tied to developers who work with clubs such as Santos FC and municipalities hosting stadiums like the Maracanã and Estádio do Morumbi. His family ties cross into networks involving agents, lawyers and executives who have worked with governing bodies such as CONMEBOL and UEFA.
Assis has been associated with several legal disputes involving taxation, transfer agreements and contract interpretation, bringing him into conflict with authorities including the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service and judicial bodies in Spain and Brazil. High-profile litigation connected to the transfer of Neymar involved scrutiny from prosecutors in Spain and led to investigations touching on entities such as DIS Esporte and investment vehicles often used in South American transfers, prompting intervention by anti-corruption units and prosecutors who reference laws administered by courts like the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil. He has also faced allegations tied to asset declarations and tax strategy similar to cases involving other football figures such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo that drew attention from agencies cooperating across jurisdictions including those in Switzerland and Portugal.
Category:Brazilian footballers Category:Association football agents