Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Co-Owner Of Spanish Segunda División Club UD Almería

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has added football club ownership to his résumé, with his company CR7 Sports Investments announcing the acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in Spanish second-division side UD Almería.

The Almería club is majority-owned by Saudi group SMC and last featured in La Liga during the 2024 season. They currently sit third in the Segunda División a position of significant importance, as the top two sides at the end of the season earn automatic promotion to La Liga.

In a formal statement released by CR7 Sports Investments, Ronaldo said: “This strategic investment in UD Almería reflects Ronaldo’s long-term commitment to professional football ownership. It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.”

Almería president Mohamed al-Khereiji also commented on the deal, hinting at a broader role for Ronaldo at the club going forward. “He is considered the best on the pitch. He knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building,” al-Khereiji said.

Also Read: India’s Path to T20 World Cup Semi-Finals Opens Up After Dominant Win Over Zimbabwe

The 40-year-old currently plays for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. His connection to Spanish football runs deep Ronaldo spent nine years at Real Madrid, winning two La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies. His most prolific season at the club came in 2014-15, when he scored 48 goals in 35 matches.

Ronaldo had originally arrived in Spain after six seasons at Manchester United in the English Premier League, before moving to Juventus in Serie A following his time in Madrid. He returned to Manchester United in 2021-22 but departed just four games into the following season amid reported differences with the club, after which he signed with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.