*This content was translated by AI.
Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al Nasr) has returned to Spain as the owner of the Spanish stage, where he enjoyed his prime. Ronaldo, who has been working as an active player but has been meticulously preparing for his life after retirement, took over a stake in Spain's second-tier club in a surprise move and began his full-fledged management move.
British media 'BBC' reported on the 27th (Korea time) that "Ronaldo became a co-owner by acquiring a 25% stake in UD Almeria in Spain's second division."
Ronaldo, who is still playing as the top player in the Saudi Arabian Professional League (SPL), became a surprise owner and stepped into club management. Putting together local reports, Ronaldo secured a stake in Almeria through the recently established "CR7 Sports Investment." Almeria is currently owned by a Saudi Arabian investment consortium led by Mohammed al-Kereiz.
"I have long had ambitions to contribute to football off the field," Ronaldo said in a statement. "Almeria is a club with a solid structure and clear potential. We look forward to working together to support the growth of the club," he said. Chairman Al Kereiji also said, "Ronaldo is the best player in history. "I also know the Spanish league very well," he said. "I understand exactly the goals of Almeira and the potential of the academy."
According to "ESPN" and "Sports Illustrated," Ronaldo is still willing to extend his active career. Last summer, he extended his contract with Saudi professional league Al Nasr until June 2027. He will even play as the captain of the Portuguese national team at the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup, which will be his record sixth World Cup this summer.
Coach Ruby Almeira said of the news, "It is exciting news for the club and the whole city," adding, "If Ronaldo wants to, he will welcome him with open arms to play as a player." Founded in 1989, Almeria is currently in third place in the Segunda División (second division) by two points, chasing the leader, Rasing Santander, and is highly likely to be promoted to La Liga.
The year between Ronaldo and Almeira is deep. Ronaldo, who is known as a La Liga legend, played in seven games against Almeria during his time at Real Madrid, winning six games and drawing one, scoring seven goals and five assists.
Ronaldo, who became the first owner in his career, is already famous as one of the most wealthy people in soccer. "Ronaldo was named the first billionaire by Bloomberg in 2025," Sports Illustrated said. "His net worth is about $1.4 billion (about 2 trillion won)." Currently, he is receiving an annual salary of about 236 million dollars (about 338 billion won), the highest in the world.
Ronaldo already has a vast business portfolio, including hotels, hair transplant clinics, fitness centers, and bottled water brands. In particular, according to a report by the 'BBC', Ronaldo previously expressed his desire to be a club owner rather than a coach at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards.
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*This content was translated by AI.
