Striker Cristiano Ronaldo announced this Thursday the purchase of 25% of Unión Deportiva Almería, a team that competes in the second division of the Spanish Championship. The move marks another step for the Portuguese star towards a goal he has already publicly declared: becoming the owner of a football club.
The stake will be held by CR7 Sports Investments, a subsidiary of CR7 SA created to manage the player’s investments in the global sports sector. According to a statement released by the athlete’s advisors, the operation represents “a decisive step in the expansion of his global investment portfolio”.
— I have long wanted to contribute to football, far beyond the field. UD Almería, in Spain, is a club with solid foundations and clear potential for growth. It is with great enthusiasm that I see my collaboration with your leadership team to support the next phase of the club’s development — said Cristiano Ronaldo, according to local newspaper SiC Notícias.
Opportunity with security!
The announcement comes one day after the striker reached the mark of 965 goals in his professional career, reinforcing his status as one of the greatest scorers in the history of football. At 40 years old, the Portuguese player is now expanding his activities outside the four lines, focusing on sports management.
The president of Almería, Mohamed Al Khereiji, celebrated the arrival of the new partner.
— We are very pleased that Cristiano chose our club to invest. He is considered the best player of all time, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building here, both in terms of the team and the academy — said the manager.
