Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become a co-owner of Spanish second division side UD Almeria.
The 41-year-old forward has acquired a 25 per cent stake in the club through CR7 Sports Investments, a newly established subsidiary under his business portfolio. The exact purchase figure has not been disclosed.
Announcing the development on Thursday, Ronaldo said the move fulfills a long-standing ambition to contribute to football beyond his playing career.
“It has been a longtime ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch,” the captain of Al-Nassr and the Portugal national football team stated.
“UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.”
The investment marks Ronaldo’s return to Spanish football following his trophy-laden spell at Real Madrid, where he spent nine successful seasons before moving to Juventus in 2018.
His involvement comes about a year after UD Almeria was taken over by a Saudi investment group. Club president Al Khereiji welcomed the partnership, describing Ronaldo as one of the greatest players in football history and expressing confidence that his experience and knowledge of Spanish football will contribute significantly to the club’s growth, both on the pitch and at academy level.
