Cristiano Ronaldo's future just got a whole lot more interesting. The Portuguese legend recently bought a 25% stake in Spanish second-tier club UD Almería. And guess what? The manager wants him to actually play for them.
Almería boss Rubi didn't hold back when asked about the possibility. "It would be extraordinary and wonderful if he could play here," he said after the ownership deal was confirmed. "This is his club and, if he wanted to continue playing, whoever the coach is, he would be received with open arms."
Let's be real - a few weeks ago, this might have actually happened. Ronaldo was reportedly feuding with Al Nassr's ownership, the Saudi Public Investment Fund. But things have cooled down since then. Ronaldo's back in the starting lineup and has doubled down on his commitment to Saudi Arabia.
"I belong to Saudi Arabia," Ronaldo declared recently. "It's a country that has welcomed me very well, and my family and my friends. I'm happy here, I want to continue here." That's pretty clear, even if he did miss a penalty in Al Nassr's 3-1 win over Al Fayha this weekend.
The Wild Timeline That Could Make This Happen
Here's where it gets interesting. Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr runs until summer 2027. He'll be 42 years old by then. If he somehow ended up playing for Almería in La Liga at that age, he'd become the second-oldest player in the competition's history since 1929.
Only Harry Lowe holds the record - he played for Real Sociedad in 1935 at 48 years and 226 days old. Though that was a special circumstance when Lowe, then the manager, had to come out of retirement because the club couldn't afford to bring substitutes to an away game.
Almería are currently battling in Spain's Segunda División, separated from the automatic promotion spots only by goal difference. For punters keeping an eye on promotion odds, Ronaldo's involvement as an owner could signal increased investment and ambition. If they finish between third and sixth, they'll need to navigate the playoffs to reach La Liga.
Player-Owner: A Rare Breed
If Ronaldo did pull on an Almería shirt, he'd join an exclusive club. Player-owners are incredibly rare in modern football. Didier Drogba did it with American side Phoenix Rising in 2017, scoring 16 goals in 26 games and winning the USL Western Conference.
But Drogba was younger than Ronaldo is now, and he was playing in America's second tier. Even Spain's second division ranks as the world's 22nd strongest league according to Opta - significantly tougher than Saudi Arabia's league, which sits at 37th. That's a serious step up for a player in his 40s.
For now, this remains a fun "what if" scenario. But in football, stranger things have happened. And with Ronaldo's 965 senior career goals, you'd never completely write him off.
