UD Almeria’s promotion charge has a new, very famous cheerleader – and he was purring again on Monday night.
The Andalusian club brushed aside Cultural Leonesa 3-0 to tighten their grip on the automatic promotion places in Spain’s second tier, chalking up a fifth win in six league outings and nudging themselves back into territory they haven’t occupied since November. Second place now belongs to Almeria, and with it the promise of a direct route back to LaLiga if they can hold their nerve.
Watching from afar, part-owner Cristiano Ronaldo wasted no time in adding his seal of approval. The 41-year-old, currently in Madrid as he nurses a hamstring injury picked up with Al Nassr, posted a simple message on Instagram after the final whistle: “Great win today. We continue.” Short, sharp and very much to the point – and it captured the mood around a club that suddenly feels like it’s moving with momentum again.
Ronaldo only completed his purchase of a 25% stake in Almeria earlier this month, but his presence is already looming large over a side trying to drag itself back to the top flight. Relegated in April 2024 and then taken over by a Saudi investment group in May 2025, Almeria have been rebuilding ever since. Now, after 29 games of the current campaign, they sit four points behind leaders Racing Santander and firmly in the thick of the promotion fight.
Coach's Perspective
Coach Juan Francesc Ferrer, better known as Rubi, was in no mood to get carried away, even after such a commanding performance.
“This is where we all want to be,” he said, looking at the table, “but the important thing is to be there by matchday 42.” In other words: enjoy the view, don’t trust it yet.
Rubi knows exactly how quickly a season can turn. There are still 39 points on the line, and he was quick to remind everyone that the hard work is only just beginning. “We have to keep our feet on the ground because there are 39 points left to play for. The squad is ready. We've brought in young players, but also veterans, who have arrived with the enthusiasm of a child. Some of them know this could be their first major achievement in their sporting careers.”
That blend has been central to Almeria’s resurgence. The youngsters have injected energy and fearlessness; the older heads, many of whom see this as a defining chapter in their careers, have given the team structure and edge. The result is a side that suddenly looks like it believes again.
For Ronaldo, this is about more than a line on an investment portfolio. The Al Nassr captain has spoken often about football projects that excite him, and Almeria’s push back towards LaLiga offers exactly that: a chance to be associated with a rising team in one of Europe’s most watched leagues, while he himself chases his own milestones and manages his recovery.
His injury, described recently as more serious than first hoped, has kept him off the pitch, but not out of the conversation. While he works in Madrid to get back to full fitness, his new club are doing their part on the field, quietly turning a season that once looked like a slog into a genuine promotion bid.
There is still a long way to go, and Rubi will keep repeating that as often as needed. But on nights like this, with three goals, three points and a table that suddenly looks a lot more inviting, it’s easy to understand why Ronaldo hit send on that message.
Almeria continue. And this time, they look equipped to finish the journey.
