Ronaldo buys 25 per cent stake in UD Almería

Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25 per cent shareholding in Spanish club UD Almería through CR7 Sports Investments, joining the ownership consortium led by SMC Group.Ronaldo said: “For a long time, my ambition has been to contribute to football beyond the pitch. UD Almería have strong foundations and clear growth potential. I look forward to working with the leadership team to support the Club’s next phase.”UD Almería described it as part of the club’s international expansion strategy under president Mohamed Al Khereiji, who played a part in Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia in 2022 following his departure from Manchester United.Al Khereiji said: “We’re very pleased that Cristiano has chosen our Club to invest in. He is considered the greatest player in history, knows Spanish football extremely well and understands the potential we are building both in the first team and at Academy level.”Financial terms were not disclosed. Almería are competing in Spain’s second tier this season following relegation from LaLiga.