Cristiano Ronaldo has long been interested in owning a football club and has hinted he would buy Manchester United when he eventually retires.
Cristiano Ronaldo becomes co-owner (Image: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo took his first step into the world of football by acquiring a 25 percent stake in Spanish club Almeria. Ronaldo, 41, continues to score goals for Al Nasr in the Saudi Professional League and will return to the biggest stage at this summer’s World Cup.
But the Portugal captain is already making plans for when he hangs up his boots. On Thursday, it was announced that Ronaldo has become part-owner of Spanish second division side Almeria.
The acquisition comes a year after Almeria was acquired by a Saudi investment group, through CR7 Sports Investments. “It has long been my ambition to contribute to football beyond the pitch,” Ronaldo said in a statement.
“UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong fundamentals and clear growth potential. I look forward to working with the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.”
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His investment could be the first step on the path to becoming the owner of none other than Manchester United. Ronaldo’s former team has undergone a change in ownership structure over the past two years, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS taking a minority stake and taking control of the club’s football operations.
At the 2024 Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke out about United’s woes and hinted that ownership could solve their problems. “It’s the same problem with Manchester United,” Ronaldo explained.
“The problem is not necessarily with the coach. It’s more than that. If I were the owner of the club, I would clarify the problems and correct the bad areas.”
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Almeria play in Spain’s second division (Image: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Ronaldo admits that although his contract with Al Nasr remains until June 2027, retirement is not far off. In November, the striker clarified what he meant when he said he would retire “soon”.
Ronaldo began by saying, “I’m really enjoying this moment.” “You know, in football, when you get to a certain age, you count the months very quickly.
“I feel really good at the moment. I scored a goal and I still feel fast and sharp. I’m enjoying playing for the national team. But let’s be honest, of course. By close I mean probably a year or two.”
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