Cristiano Ronaldo has been on the forefront of soccer for the previous twenty years and now the Portuguese celebrity will proceed to take action in future as a membership proprietor.
The 41-year-old continues to ship on the pitch however he could have new ambitions of his personal after turning into a co-owner of UD Almeria.
On Thursday morning it was introduced that Ronaldo has purchased a 25 per cent share within the membership by his CR7 Sports activities Investments firm.
‘It has been a longtime ambition of mine to contribute to soccer, past the pitch,’ the Al-Nassr and Portugal captain mentioned in an announcement.
‘UD Almeria is a Spanish membership with robust foundations and clear potential for development. I look ahead to working alongside the management workforce to assist the membership’s subsequent part of development.’
The acquisition determine hasn’t been disclosed however marks Ronaldo’s return to Spanish soccer after 9 trophy-laden seasons at Actual Madrid earlier than he left for Juventus in the summertime of 2018.
Cristiano Ronaldo is now a soccer membership proprietor after shopping for a 25 per cent share in UD Almeria
UD Almeria sit third within the Spanish second division – simply two factors off high with 15 video games left
His involvement additionally comes a yr after the Spanish second division aspect have been taken over by a Saudi funding group.
It’s understood that Ronaldo has an in depth relationship with the group’s chief Mohamed Al Khereiji – who’s reported to have helped facilitate his transfer to Al-Nassr in 2022 after his acrimonious exit from Manchester United.
Al Khereiji, UD Almeria membership president, mentioned: ‘We’re very happy that Cristiano has chosen our membership to spend money on.
‘He’s considered the best to ever play the sport, he is aware of the Spanish leagues very nicely and he understands the potential of what we’re constructing right here each by way of the workforce and the academy.’
Ronaldo is definitely older than UD Almeria with the membership based in 1989. They at present sit third in Segunda on 48 factors after 27 matches, two factors off leaders Actual Racing, with an extra 15 video games to go.
Their first sport with Ronaldo as a co-owner is on Friday night time after they journey to mid-table outfit Albacete.
Ronaldo’s step into membership possession comes 14 months after he hinted at sooner or later delving into that position at Manchester United.
Talking on the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in December 2024, he mentioned the membership’s struggles weren’t simply right down to on-pitch points – with the issues far better than that.
‘[The] Premier League it is probably the most troublesome league on this planet,’ he mentioned.
‘All of the groups are good, all of the groups combat, all of the groups run, all of the groups are robust. Soccer is completely different proper now. There is no simple video games any extra.
‘They want, I mentioned this one yr and a half in the past, and I’ll proceed to say it: The issue is just not the coaches, it is like… I all the time give this instance… it is like an aquarium.
‘In case you have the fish inside and he is sick and you’re taking him out and also you repair the issue and you place him once more in an aquarium you can be sick once more.
‘The issue of Manchester United is identical. The issue is just not all the time the coach. It is way more than that.
‘If I would be the proprietor of the membership, I’ll make issues clear and modify issues which are unhealthy there.’
Ronaldo has beforehand spoken about turning into a membership proprietor, hinting at doing so at Man United
These phrases adopted his TalkTV interview with Piers Morgan in 2021 that served as the ultimate nail within the coffin for his second spell at United, the place Ronaldo alleged co-owners Joel and Avram Glazer ‘do not care’ concerning the membership.
‘The homeowners of the membership, the Glazers, they do not care concerning the membership,’ he mentioned.
‘I imply, skilled sport, as you already know this, Manchester (United) is a advertising and marketing membership.
‘They may get its cash from the advertising and marketing – the game, they do not actually care, in my view.’
‘You’ve some issues contained in the membership which do not assist Manchester (United) attain the highest degree as Metropolis, Liverpool and even now Arsenal, for instance… which is difficult, it is troublesome.
‘You’ve some issues contained in the membership which do not assist Manchester (United) attain the highest degree as Metropolis, Liverpool and even now Arsenal, for instance… which is difficult, it is troublesome.’
