February 19 – Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. has taken his influence beyond the pitch, spearheading a consortium of Spanish and Brazilian investors to acquire Liga Portugal 2 side Alverca. The Brazilian winger now reportedly owns between 70-80% of the club’s shares, as former owner Ricardo Vicintin sells up.
Alverca, based just outside Lisbon, currently sit second in the Portuguese second tier, making this more than just a vanity project—it’s an ambitious investment with promotion potential.
While the exact price of the deal remains undisclosed, early reports suggested figures around €10 million. However, neither Vinicius’ representatives nor Vicintin have confirmed the final amount.
The move continues a growing trend of footballers diversifying their careers into club ownership. Vinicius follows the likes of Gerard Piqué, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and David Beckham—players who decided that having their name on the back of a shirt wasn’t enough and opted to have it on the club’s paperwork too.
For Vinicius, this isn’t just about prestige; it’s a strategic play. The modern footballer-as-investor model allows players to future-proof their careers long before hanging up their boots. In his case, it cements his role both on and off the pitch—already laying the groundwork for a career far beyond his playing days.
An official club statement confirmed the sale, stating: “FC Alverca – Futebol, SAD hereby announces that Eng. Ricardo Vicintin has sold his qualified stake in the public limited company to a group of Spanish and Brazilian investors.”
The new ownership group will be formally introduced in the coming weeks, while current club CEO Matheus Ornelas will oversee operations until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Vinicius is now the second current Real Madrid player to invest in European club football after teammate Kylian Mbappé purchased a majority stake in French second-division side Caen for €20 million (£17m/$22m) last summer.
The 24-year-old will return to action on Wednesday as Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie, with Los Blancos currently ahead 3-2 with tonight’s Bernabeu leg looming.
Having dismantled Newcastle United 4-0 at the weekend, Pep Guardiola’s side looked reborn and will hope to carry that form into the blockbuster clash that could make or break either team’s season.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1740152194labto1740152194ofdlr1740152194owedi1740152194sni@g1740152194niwe.1740152194yrrah1740152194