As Cristiano Ronaldo edges toward the twilight of his storied playing career, speculation about his post-retirement plans has reached a fever pitch. While the Portuguese icon has publicly dismissed coaching as a future path, he’s hinted at something even more ambitious: club ownership. Recently, a bombshell rumor has surfaced that could shake the very foundations of Spanish soccer—a takeover bid for a La Liga club that would pit Ronaldo in direct rivalry with Real Madrid, the very institution that helped define his legendary status.
“If I can be a club owner, why would I be a manager, sporting director or CEO?” This was Cristiano Ronaldo’s rhetorical question during a February 2025 interview with Canal 11. It wasn’t just a throwaway line—it was a clear signal of intent. The idea of the Portuguese running a soccer club isn’t just a media fantasy anymore; it’s becoming a plausible reality.
And while some have playfully entertained the idea of Ronaldo joining the Hollywood-backed Wrexham project—former Premier League midfielder Andy Townsend quipped that “Cristiano Ronaldo could probably buy Wrexham and have Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as his drivers, if he wanted to”—reports in Spain are painting a very different picture.
The club at the heart of this swirling speculation is none other than Valencia CF, a historic institution in Spanish soccer with a loyal fanbase, a decorated past, and a recent history marred by mismanagement and decline. Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claimed: “Cristiano will be the next owner of Valencia if the team stays in LaLiga.” This isn’t the first time whispers of the 40-year-old’s interest in Valencia have circulated, but the rumors have intensified in recent weeks, especially due to his long-standing personal and business relationship with the club’s current owner, Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim.
Despite Lim’s public insistence that the club is not for sale—“Valencia CF is not up for sale and it remains committed to Valencia CF,” a spokesperson from his holding company, Meriton Holdings, said in March—the timing of several developments has reignited the conversation.
Survival first, takeover next?
Valencia’s 2024-25 season has been nothing short of turbulent. The club, once a European contender, has been languishing near the relegation zone. After parting ways with head coach Rubén Baraja, the board appointed Carlos Corberan, a former Valencia academy player, in a bid to steer the team to safety. Since Corberan’s arrival on Christmas Eve, the club has improved, currently sitting four points clear of the drop in 16th place.
Sources suggest Ronaldo’s potential involvement hinges on one critical condition: Valencia must avoid relegation. If they stay in La Liga, Ronaldo—possibly backed by Saudi Arabian investment from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman or a state fund—could launch a bid to buy the club. That level of backing, combined with Ronaldo’s global brand, could fundamentally transform Valencia’s fortunes.
Legendary rival becomes a league competitor?
The narrative practically writes itself. Cristiano Ronaldo, once the face of Real Madrid, could return to Spain not as a player but as a club owner—ready to rival Los Blancos from the boardroom instead of the pitch.
During his nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu, he won two La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and scored a record 450 goals in 438 appearances. The idea of him now owning a competing La Liga team is both ironic and tantalizing.
Estimates suggest a takeover of Valencia could cost around €450 million ($493 million). That figure is steep, but not beyond reach for Ronaldo, especially with external financial backing. His current salary at Al-Nassr is reported to be in the €200 million ($219 million) per year range. Add in endorsements, investments, and commercial clout, and the numbers start to make sense.
