In a recent development, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has become the co-owner of Spanish second division side Almeria. This move comes as Ronaldo acquires a 25% share in the club, marking his entry into football club ownership.
Ronaldo's stake in Almeria was purchased through his recently formed company, CR7 Sports Investments. The 41-year-old forward for Al-Nassr bought this stake from the Saudi Arabian investment consortium led by Mohammed Al-Khereiji that owns the club.
While specific financial details remain undisclosed, Ronaldo expressed enthusiasm about this new venture. In an official statement, he mentioned looking forward to working with the leadership team and supporting "the next phase of the club's growth."
Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr striker, said:
"It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch.
"UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth."
Brief history of ownership transitions at Almeria
Al-Khereiji's SMC Group acquired ownership of Almeria last year from Turki Al-Sheikh. Sheikh is currently serving as chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), a department under Saudi government jurisdiction.
Almeria President, Al-Khereiji, said:
"[Ronaldo] is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy."
This acquisition marks a return to Spain for Ronaldo after his successful nine-year stint playing for Real Madrid. During his time there, he won La Liga twice and lifted the Champions League trophy four times before moving on to Italian side Juventus in 2018. Currently playing for Saudi Pro League's team -Al-Nassr since 2022-, Ronaldo holds an impressive record as being football history’s best-paid player with an annual salary amounting to £177m.
Founded in 1989, today's Almeria stands third in Segunda Division - just two points behind leaders Real Racing with only fifteen games remaining this season. With such exciting developments unfolding at both management and field levels, it will be interesting to see how Ronaldo's involvement shapes the future of Almeria. As a player who has tasted immense success in Spain, his experience and insights could prove invaluable for the club's growth and performance in upcoming seasons.
