Cristiano Ronaldo, the 41-year-old forward of Al-Nassr, has taken a 25% ownership stake in Spanish second-division club UD Almería through his CR7 Sports Investments company.
Almería currently sits third in Spain’s Segunda División, just two points behind leaders Real Racing with 15 games remaining. Ronaldo said he looks forward to collaborating with the club’s leadership to support the next phase of its growth.
“It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch. UD Almería is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth,” Ronaldo said.
The club’s owner, Mohammed Al-Khereiji, welcomed Ronaldo’s involvement, citing his extensive experience in Spanish football.
“Ronaldo is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here, both in terms of the team and the academy,” Al-Khereiji said.
Almería was acquired last year by Al-Khereiji’s SMC Group from Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. Ronaldo spent nine years at Real Madrid, scoring 450 goals in 438 appearances and winning multiple La Liga and Champions League titles before joining Juventus in 2018.
Since moving to Al-Nassr in 2022, Ronaldo has become the highest-paid footballer in history, earning £177 million annually. His new role at UD Almería marks a significant step into club ownership while he continues to compete professionally.
