Cristiano Ronaldo to invest millions in project with unlikely career change on the horizon

Cristiano Ronaldo has been spotted trying his hand at a new sport outside of football, taking up padel. The Portuguese star was spotted playing a few games with long-time friend Miguel Paixao, who he has known since his days playing for Sporting.

Ronaldo is not only a fan of the sport, but he also plans to invest in padel and become an entrepreneur in the sport as a whole, contributing to an ambitious project in his homeland.

DirectTVSport reports that the 39-year-old is keen to boost the growth of padel in Portugal and establish himself as a prominent figure in the sport and its business. Padel, often referred to as padel tennis, is a racket sport originating in Mexico that involves two rackets and a tennis ball. It uses the same scoring system as tennis, but the technique, court size and distance from the net differ.

The project, named Padel City, received approval from the Oeiras City Hall and was developed by the Portuguese Padel Federation in collaboration with Smooth Odissey – a company owned by Ronaldo and businessman Filipe de Botton.

Currently, the project is in the process of obtaining specialized licenses, but it is expected that the construction of the padel courts will begin soon, according to the Record. The Vale do Jamor area in Portugal will house 17 padel courts, 15 of which will be indoors to facilitate play all year round.

The project also includes a central court that can accommodate more than 2,000 spectators. Additional facilities such as a restaurant, a gym and a physiotherapy room will be part of this vast 15,000 square meter complex.

The space will also serve as the new headquarters of the Portuguese Padel Federation. The project is just one of many business ventures Ronaldo is involved in outside of football, including his Pestana Hotels brand, a clothing and underwear line, fitness centers in Saudi Arabia and various real estate investments.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ronaldo is worth $600 million (£466 million) and is considered one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world, further boosting his ability to inject much-needed funds into the sport of padel.

While we may not see a complete career change from the veteran footballer anytime soon, his investments in other sports and businesses will solidify his face in the future of the entertainment industry for years to come.