August 14: another key date in the AS Monaco saga
August 10, 2026
Ronaldinho candidate to take over AS Monaco!
Ronaldinho has officially put himself forward as a candidate to take over AS Monaco Basket, according to L'Équipe. The 2005 Ballon d'Or winner is associated with the Andorran investment fund Clayton Sport, while the club is already working on the project led by former NBA player Jamal Mashburn and his Helen Holdings consortium to try to save its place in Betclic ELITE.
July 19, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.; Former Brazil player Ronaldinho during the halftime show. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli-Reuters via Imagn Images
Photo Credit : © Amanda Perobelli-Reuters via Imagn Images
A rather unexpected candidate has entered the picture in the AS Monaco Basket takeover case. According to information from L’Équipe, Ronaldinho has officially positioned himself to take over the Principality’s club, with the support of the Andorran investment fund Clayton Sport. A letter of intent for a potential investment was sent on Monday, August 10, to Monaco’s executive director Oleksiy Yefimov.
This proposal comes as AS Monaco is already working on a takeover by Jamal Mashburn and his Helen Holdings consortium. The club is looking for a solution that would allow it to meet the DNCCG’s financial requirements and save its place in Betclic ELITE, just days before its case goes before the CNOSF.
Ronaldinho and Clayton Sport ready to invest in AS Monaco Basket
According to L’Équipe, the project involving Ronaldinho and Clayton Sport could address several of the urgent financial issues AS Monaco Basket must deal with. The candidates would reportedly be able to settle the 2.5 million euro debt owed to the EuroLeague and provide the 5 million euro bank guarantee demanded by the DNCCG.
The project would not be limited to these immediate needs. Ronaldinho and Clayton Sport are said to be considering a commitment of between three and five years, with an investment of 10 million euros per season. The former Brazilian international could himself invest financially and play an important role in the project, beyond just lending his image.
Ronaldinho is also familiar with the Principality. The former Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona player was in Monaco as recently as this past June to take part in a Barbagiuans match.
Jamal Mashburn’s project still under discussion
This candidacy does not mean the Jamal Mashburn option has been abandoned. The former NBA All-Star is behind another takeover project through the Helen Holdings consortium, with which Monaco’s leadership continues its discussions.
On Monday, before the Ronaldinho project emerged, AS Monaco had actually announced its intention to finalize its case in order to secure its reinstatement in Betclic ELITE. It was just a few hours later that Oleksiy Yefimov received the letter of intent concerning the offer backed by Ronaldinho.
AS Monaco therefore finds itself with two takeover projects while its future in the French championship remains to be determined. The Roca Team must now convince the authorities that its financial situation allows it to take part in the 2026-2027 season.
An investor already active in sport
As mentioned, Ronaldinho is paired in this project with Clayton, a venture capital and business creation firm based in Andorra, specializing in sport and lifestyle. According to its presentation on LinkedIn, Clayton provides financial and operational support to the companies it invests in, with a portfolio of more than 20 companies in sport, lifestyle and entertainment.
Clayton notably states that it holds stakes in FC Andorra, as well as in The Agency, Ondalinda and WOWfc. The company presents itself as a long-term investor, operating through both traditional capital raises and stakes tied to the performance of the companies it supports.
Three days before the CNOSF deadline, the Roca Team’s future could thus come down to two projects led by two former athletes of international renown: Jamal Mashburn on one side, Ronaldinho on the other.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
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