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By Lawrence Agbo
Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he has acquired a 25 per cent stake in Saudi-owned Spanish second-division side Almeria.
Ronaldo disclosed on Thursday, marking his latest move into football investment and club ownership.
According to a statement from his new sports holding company, CR7 Sports Investments, “This strategic investment in UD Almeria reflects Ronaldo’s long-term commitment to professional football ownership.”
“It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football,” the statement quoted Ronaldo as saying.
Almeria, which competes in Spain’s Segunda Division, is currently owned by Saudi group SMC. It came last in the Spanish top flight in 2024, one point out of the automatic promotion places.
“Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth.”
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“I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth,” said Ronaldo, who has played in the Saudi Pro League for Al Nasser since 2023.
Mohamed Al Khereiji, Almeria’s president, believes that Ronaldo would be particularly involved in the club’s youth programme.
“He is considered the best on the pitch,” Al Khereiji said. “He knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building.”
Last October, Ronaldo became the first footballer included in Bloomberg’s ‘Billionaire Index’ after his stake in his Saudi club.
After a disagreement over how the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the national sovereign wealth fund that owns four of the league’s clubs, handled the winter transfer window, he rejoined the Al-Nassr first team.
In the past three games, he has scored four goals. Next summer, Cristiano Ronaldo will compete in his sixth World Cup, although he has hinted that it might be his final one at age 41.
