Portugal football hero Cristiano Ronaldo has embraced a new sporting passion: padel, Soccernet.football reports.
The Portuguese star is not only a fan of the game but is also set to become a padel entrepreneur. He is investing €5 million in a new padel club in Oeiras, a town near Lisbon, with plans to open in February.
Ronaldo, who left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018, discovered Padel after moving from Spain.
Padel, a racket sport originating in Mexico, is typically played in doubles on an enclosed court smaller than a tennis court. It uses a similar scoring system to tennis but has different rules, strokes, and techniques. The balls are slightly less pressurized, and the court’s walls allow for unique gameplay similar to squash.
The new Padel complex, named Ciudad del Padel, is a joint venture between Lusofinanca Lda, whose major shareholder is Felipe de Botton, and Ronaldo through his company, CR7 SA. The Portuguese Padel Federation has confirmed that Lusofinanca Lda will oversee the project.
Ronaldo’s passion for padel is evident as he is frequently seen playing with friends and family. Recently, he was spotted on the court with Miguel Paixão, a close friend from his early days at Sporting Lisbon. Paixão is currently involved in expanding the CR7 brand.
Ronaldo’s involvement in Padel is expected to boost the sport’s popularity internationally. As a global figure, his endorsement and investment in the City of Padel will likely attract more attention and participation in the sport.