Cristiano Ronaldo's proposed takeover of massive European club takes giant step closer to reality

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has shown little inclination to retire from playing but has reportedly set his sights on football club ownership.

Ronaldo is playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, one of the four clubs taken over two years ago by the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Now 40, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is apparently getting his ducks in a row for his own club takeover and isn't minded to limit the ambition when it comes to his selection.

"Ronaldo owns a hotel chain, clothing and lifestyle brand, fitness centres, and he's made investments in real estate, media and technology companies," according to the Mirror.

"But buying a football club is seemingly his next ambition."

His plans took a big step in the right direction on Saturday thanks to events on the field in La Liga.

Mundo Deportivo reported last month that the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is interested in a stunning takeover of hapless Valencia, a stumbling giant of the European game with half a stadium too many and far too long an absence from the limelight.

Ronaldo is understood to only want to pursue a deal with heavily criticised owner Peter Lim if Valencia avoid relegation from Spain's top division and their 3-2 win over Las Palmas on Saturday made the Murcielagos safe from the drop barring a freak set of results in the season's remaining matches.

Any bid from Ronaldo for Valencia would require the financial backing of Saudi's PIF to have enough clout to make even Lim, reluctant to sell but increasingly unpopular with Valencia faltering badly, consider his options.

"While Ronaldo's representatives are yet to comment on the speculation, Singaporean billionaire Lim had no plans to sell the club when pressed on the topic," reported the Mirror.

Valencia's unfinished Nou Mestalla (Image: Getty)

The Portugal skipper is no stranger to La Liga. He played for Real Madrid for nine years, winning the league title twice in an era packed with dramatic meetings with Barcelona and adding four Champions League medals to his 2008 win with Man Utd.

Ronaldo is the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season but Al Nassr are eight points behind leaders Al Ittihad and haven't won the title since 2018-19, two and a half years before his arrival.

Despite Lim's flat denial that Valencia are for sale, they have all the hallmarks of a big club in need of renewal.

They haven't finished in the top four in the last six seasons and 2024-25 is the second of those campaigns in which they've been too close to relegation for comfort.