In an announcement on Feb. 26, Ronaldo revealed the deal was executed through CR7 Sports Investments, a newly established subsidiary of the CR7 SA group, which manages the 41-year-old striker’s personal business and investment portfolio.
“I have long had the ambition to contribute to football beyond the field,” Ronaldo said in the announcement. “UD Almeria is a Spanish club with a strong foundation and clear growth potential. I look forward to working with the team that leads it to support the club in its new phase of growth.”
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates a goal for Al Nassr. Photo by AFP |
While the financial details of this investment remain undisclosed, Ronaldo’s camp affirmed his long-term commitment to professional club ownership. Mark highlighted this deal as a major milestone for the Portuguese superstar as an entrepreneur and investor. It also marks his high-profile return to Spanish football, this time in the boardroom rather than on the pitch, following his legendary stint with Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018.
Ronaldo has publicly expressed his desire to own a football team for some time. At the Globe Soccer Awards in December 2024, the Al Nassr forward stated that if he were to step into ownership, he would directly address the structural problems at several major European clubs.
The possibility of Ronaldo joining Almeria’s ownership group was first mentioned by Mark a few months ago after the Saudi Arabian investment firm SMC Group acquired the club. Almeria are expected to make an official announcement shortly, confirming that Ronaldo will be actively involved on the board of directors rather than acting as an investor.
This move deepens Ronaldo’s close professional relationship with Almeria’s president, Mohamed al Khereiji. The Saudi businessman played a pivotal role in bringing the superstar to Al Nassr following his controversial departure from Manchester United in late 2022. Through time, their partnership has evolved as they jointly manage the southern Spanish club.
In a separate statement, Al Khereiji welcomed the 1985-born icon’s investment.
“He is regarded as the best on the pitch, knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building here, both in the first team and in the youth academy.”
Founded on July 26, 1989, initially as Almeria Club de Fytbol, the team rebranded to Union Deportiva Almería in 2001 after merging with Polideportivo Almeria to create a unified sporting project for the city. The club play home matches at the UD Almería Stadium, a 17,400-seat venue built in 2004 and currently sit third in the La Liga 2.
Despite having a relatively short history compared to Spain’s powerhouses, Almería have achieved promotion to La Liga several times and enjoyed impressive campaigns, notably finishing eighth in the top flight during the 2007-2008 season under Aston Villa’s current manager, Unai Emery.
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