Cristiano Ronaldo just bought himself a piece of Spanish football. And now his new team wants him to lace up his boots for them too.
The Portuguese legend secured a 25% stake in UD Almería this week, making him a part-owner of the second-tier Spanish club. Manager Rubi didn't waste any time rolling out the welcome mat for the 965-goal scoring machine.
"It would be extraordinary and wonderful if he could play here," Rubi said after the ownership announcement. "This is his club and, if he wanted to continue playing, whoever the coach is, he would be received with open arms."
The timing is pretty interesting. Just weeks ago, Ronaldo was reportedly feuding with Al Nassr's ownership and the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Things got messy enough that people started wondering about his future in the Kingdom.
But those waters have calmed considerably. Ronaldo's allies on the Al Nassr board have regained influence, and he's back in the starting lineup. He even doubled down on his Saudi commitment recently, saying "I belong to Saudi Arabia" and expressing happiness with how the country has welcomed his family.
The 2027 Question
Here's where it gets wild. Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract runs until summer 2027. He'll be 42 years old then. If he joined Almería after that deal expires, he'd become the second-oldest La Liga player ever.
Only Harry Lowe has played in Spain's top flight at an older age - appearing for Real Sociedad at 48 years and 226 days back in 1935. Lowe was actually the manager who had to suit up when the club couldn't afford to bring substitutes to an away match.
Almería currently sits in the Spanish second division, level on points with the automatic promotion spots. They need a top-two finish to guarantee La Liga football, or they'll face the playoffs if they finish between third and sixth.
For bettors eyeing Almería's promotion chances, Ronaldo's investment adds an intriguing wrinkle. While he won't join until 2027 at the earliest, his involvement could attract better players and sponsorships in the meantime. That financial boost might help their push for top-flight football.
Player-Owner: The Rarest Combo
If Ronaldo does pull this off, he'd join an extremely exclusive club. Didier Drogba managed it with Phoenix Rising in the USL back in 2017, scoring 16 goals in 26 games as both owner and player.
But Drogba was younger than Ronaldo is now when he did it. And the USL is a different beast than Spanish football. According to Opta's rankings, Spain's Segunda División is the world's 22nd strongest league. The Saudi Pro League? That's ranked 37th.
So even if Almería stays in the second tier, Ronaldo would be stepping up in competition quality while pushing into his mid-40s. That's a massive ask for any player, even one with nearly 1,000 career goals.
For now, Ronaldo seems committed to Saudi Arabia through 2027. But football has taught us never to say never. Stranger things have happened than a 42-year-old legend returning to Europe to play for the club he owns.
