United Kingdom, Feb. 26 -- Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a 25 percent stake in a Spanish soccer team.

The 41-year-old sporting icon has become the new co-owner of Almeria, a Spanish second division side, and Ronaldo is now looking forward to working with the club's leadership team "to support the next phase of the club's growth".

He added: "It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch.

"UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth."

Mohammed Al-Khereiji, the club's president, is also excited to work with Ronaldo.

He said: "[Ronaldo] is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of ...