Cristiano Ronaldo reacts throughout Al Nassr conflict with Al Kholood in King Abdullah Sport Metropolis Stadium Buraydah, Saudi Arabia – January 30, 2026. — Reuters/File
Cristiano Ronaldo introduced on Thursday that he had acquired a 25% stake in Saudi-owned Spanish second-division membership Almeria.
“This strategic investment in UD Almeria reflects Ronaldo’s long-term commitment to professional football ownership,” mentioned a press release from his new sports activities holding firm CR7 Sports activities Investments which gave no monetary particulars of the deal.
“It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football,” the assertion quoted Ronaldo as saying.
Almeria, who have been final within the Spanish prime flight in 2024, are third within the Spanish second division, one level out of the automated promotion locations.
“Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth.”
The membership is owned by Saudi group SMC.
“I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth,” mentioned Ronaldo, who has performed within the Saudi Professional League for Al Nasser since 2023.
Almeria’s president, Mohamed Al Khereiji, prompt the participant could be significantly be concerned within the membership’s youth programme.
“He is considered the best on the pitch,” Al Khereiji mentioned. “He knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building.”
Ronaldo, who additionally owns a stake in his Saudi membership, final October grew to become the primary footballer included in Bloomberg’s ‘Billionaire Index’.
He just lately returned to the Al-Nassr first staff after a spat over the best way Public Funding Fund (PIF), the nationwide sovereign wealth fund which controls 4 golf equipment within the league, dealt with the winter switch window.
He has scored 4 occasions within the final three video games.
Ronaldo is ready to participate in his sixth World Cup subsequent summer time though he has prompt that, aged 41, it could possibly be his final World Cup.
