Cristiano Ronaldo tipped to partner Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in new Wrexham ownership
Wrexham have been tipped to enjoy even more success if Cristiano Ronaldo buys into the League One club alongside current owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
Cristiano Ronaldo has been suggested as a potential new investor in Wrexham, alongside Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The duo have already achieved remarkable success with the League One club, securing consecutive promotions under manager Phil Parkinson over the past two seasons.
The Red Dragons are on the brink of reaching the Championship, currently positioned second in League One. Ronaldo, now playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, is approaching the twilight of his illustrious career at 40 years old.
Although he says he's not ready to retire just yet, ex-Premier League player Andy Townsend believes that Ronaldo should look into football club ownership once he hangs up his boots. Townsend sees Wrexham as an ideal opportunity for Ronaldo, who has shown interest in acting when his playing days are up.
"Cristiano Ronaldo could probably buy Wrexham and have Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as his drivers, if he wanted to," Townsend told BoyleSports. "But what an incredible story.
"They've given so much hope to people coming into football that potentially could buy clubs and could get involved in our game to show you what can happen. I would not be surprised to see Cristiano Ronaldo buy a club when he finishes playing.
"We have seen him invest in hotels and other things and he has plenty of interest in business. I could see him buying a football club, maybe in the Football League, because he loves the game and I think he'd back himself to run a club, I could really see that."
Wrexham's accounts for the year ending June 2024 boasted an impressive £26.7million turnover. The surge is largely attributed to the global attention drawn by the club's owners.
The potential involvement of someone like Ronaldo would undoubtedly amplify this interest due to his worldwide fame. The astonishing turnover figures, which are said to be a record for a then-League Two team, have been credited in part to the exposure from the 'Welcome to Wrexham' documentary.
The show's success has enabled Wrexham to form lucrative commercial partnerships with companies such as United Airlines and HP, leading to a sponsorship revenue jump from £1.9m to £13.2m. Reynolds and McElhenney, the current custodians of Wrexham, have already opened the doors to new investors.
The owners of Mexican outfit Club Necaxa, including actress Eva Longoria, now hold a five per cent share in the club. Additionally, the Allyn family from New York joined the ranks in October, with loans worth £15m provided by the Hollywood duo having since been repaid.
In a potential boost for fans dreaming of another high-profile figure, club director Shaun Harvey offered hope in the narrative accompanying Wrexham’s financial statements. He said: "Wrexham Holdings LLC, the shareholder of Wrexham AFC Limited now has three investors, with Rob and Ryan continuing to be the majority shareholders.
"The three investors are aligned on the principles that have been in place since the takeover in February 2021 and are committed to the positive development of the club. Further partners would be considered, if they can add value and assist in the delivery of our objectives."