Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a quarter ownership of Spanish second division club UD Almeria, adding another business venture to his growing influence in football outside his playing career.
One of the most recognizable athletes on the planet has taken a minority stake in a football club, investing in the Spanish second division side UD Almeria while he is still a professional player.
The club, which has found themselves in the lower Spanish leagues recently after a fall from grace, now has one of the sport’s most famous names as one of its shareholders with a 25 percent share. Ronaldo is not the majority stakeholder at UD Almeria.
The Al Nassr player’s move comes as he is showing increasing interest in the long-term future of football, both off and on the pitch, with a big focus on club ownership and management now he is further into his career. This is one of the clearest signs of his commitment to the game beyond being an athlete.
UD Almeria have been known for their erratic nature, moving between divisions recently, and have suffered from inconsistency both on and off the field in recent years with their management looking to bring more structure and investment to the team, facilities and all round planning for the future.
One of the advantages Ronaldo’s arrival will bring is in terms of brand and popularity as his presence will surely raise the profile of the club worldwide as they compete outside of Spain’s biggest division and that will no doubt increase interest from sponsors and the media globally.
No concrete financial figures have been released yet but with a 25 percent stake, it clearly signals a sizable investment is to be made and money will likely go towards improving and developing playing structures, facilities, and general recruitment to make the team better over time.
Ronaldo himself has not hidden the fact he wishes to stay within the game after his retirement, suggesting a passion for club ownership and administration when he hangs up his boots and this purchase fits into a recent trend in football with a lot of players now venturing into buying clubs when their careers draw to a close.
This news follows a summer of speculation about Ronaldo’s future with his current employers Al Nassr and even international club returns, but the 41-year-old shows no signs of stopping and continues to represent Portugal internationally.
