Roberto de Assis Moreira, commonly known as Assis, is a former footballer who is the brother, manager, agent and adviser of Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho. He is also the owner of Porto Alegre Futebol Clube.
Biography
Roberto de Assis Moreira was born January 10, 1971 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Assis was born to Miguelina de Assis, a cosmetics saleswoman who later became a nurse, and João Moreira a ship welder and former professional player for Cruzeiro-RS. While growing up his family lived in poverty, residing in a wooden house within a favela of Porto Alegre. Assis would grow up around soccer, with his father not only being a former player, but also working as a game day doorman for Gremio while his uncles played as well. Assis would be an inspiration for his brother Ronaldinho, nine years his younger, as his talents landed him a position with Gremio's youth team and would lead to a notable athletic career. Assis would bring his family out of the favela with his first contract, having Gremio pay for a new house in a wealthy neighborhood with a swimming pool. Sadly, the upward mobility would be marked by tragedy as his father drowned in the pool in 1989. After this death, Assis would have to act as the head of the household, managing his career and later his brother's as well. His mother would go on to remarry another man who would die of a heart attack in 2012.
Football Career
Roberto's success as a footballer helped his family leave the slots behind for a more comfortable home, but his hopes of playing top-level football with Grêmio were all but destroyed when he suffered a serious knee injury, which led him to play football in Switzerland. He played for Sion in 1992-1995 and 1996-1998. With Sion he won two Cups in 1995 and 1997 and became Swiss Champion that year. Then he went to stints in Japan and Mexico.
Manager and Agent
Assis's younger brother Ronaldo, now known as Ronaldinho, would emerge as a similarly desired talent at Gremio's youth team. Assis, who had experience in the world of association football as a negotiator and player and had taken on a paternal role for his brother, would act as manager for Ronaldinho throughout his career, until its end. Assis would keep in touch with his brother while he played in Brazil, witnessing Gremio decline numerous offers for Ronaldinho until Assis would negotiate a transfer to Paris Saint-Germaine F.C., seen by some as revenge for being sold off to Sion years earlier. His reputation as a negotiator would become infamous as he managed all his brother's affairs and kept pressure on sponsors, with some going so far as to claim that he was controlling his brother's every action. Assis would also be pivotal in the Nike deal which saw his brother join the list of athletes who would be part of the Nike Tiempo shoe line.
Other Roles
While Assis agent career was given focus on due to his brother and client, Ronaldinho, he also served the interests of several other players including Rodrigo Gral as president of the Assis Moreira Group. Assis also owns Brazilian club Porto Alegre, which currently plays the Campeonato Gaúcho.
Personal Life
Relationship with Ronaldinho
Today, Assis acts as his brother's agent and adviser, and is credited by many, including Ronaldinho himself, as a major influence and guiding force of the player. Ronaldinho described his brother in January of 2020 as a "brother, father, partner, footballer" while onlookers, like Brazilian footballer Walter Casagrande, claimed Ronaldinho was simply being childish for relying too much on his older brother. During his acceptance speech after receiving the FIFA World Player of the Year award for a second consecutive year in December 2005, Ronaldinho paid tribute to his brother: "He's my idol. He's been through a lot and has helped me every step of the way. He has encouraged me never to stop trying."
Son
Assis has also fathered a son who attempted to make a career in the sport like Assis and his uncle. His son, Diego Assis, joined Flamengo's youth team while Ronaldinho was playing for them and would leave alongside his uncle. Assis's son would go on to join Cruzeiro-RS for a short period in 2014 like Assis's father had previously done.
Legal Troubles
Assis began having legal troubles in 2003 when he was arrested and sentenced to 5 years and 5 months under a 'semi-open regime' for money laundering. He would later be fined roughly 1.5 million dollars, alongside his brother, for building a fishing platform along the Guaíba River in a 'heritage-protected' zone. They would ultimately lose their passports for not paying the fine in full. In March of 2020 he was questioned by police in Paraguay, along with his brother and Brazilian businessman Wilmondes Sousa Lira, after the two were alleged to have used fake passports to enter the country while coming for a charity event and book promotion. The brothers would go on to be jailed in Asunción although the fake passport charges would be dropped. The investigation evolve into allegations of the brothers being tied to a money laundering scheme connected to entrepreneur Dalia Lopez, who allegedly gave them the fake passports with help from businessman Wilmondes Sousa Lira, who had been traveling with the two brothers. They would be moved from jail to being placed under house arrest in a hotel, although their appeal to end house arrest would be denied due to them being a flight risk.
