Cristiano Ronaldo shows true colours as staff learn working conditions at CR7 Hotel

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Madrid hotel is hiring, and successful candidates will benefit from some fine job perks. The 39-year-old became a hotelier in 2015, partnering with the Pestana Hotel Group and Madeiran compatriot Dionisio Pestana, reportedly coughing up an initial investment north of £30million.

Almost a decade on, the former Manchester United star boasts five separate establishments under his CR7 name, located worldwide in the cities of Madrid, Funchal, Lisbon, Marrakech and New York.

Now, in Spain’s capital where he played at the peak of his powers with Real Madrid, Ronaldo’s Pestana CR7 Gran Via has given the public a glimpse into what it is like to work for the superstar through their hiring process.

Ronaldo’s property, located on one of the city’s busiest streets, is currently looking for waiters, supervisors, receptionists, bar assistants and junior waiters – with any applicants required to have a high level of English and a vocational qualification.

Opened in 2021 after the pandemic, Gran Via offers a range of notable perks, including a permanent contract with restaurant tickets and a reduced rate when wishing to visit any of the group’s other locations.

50 days of holiday, a birthday bonus and a 25% discount in all hotel bars and restaurants are included in salaries that reach just over £25,000.

Staff would also be offered free health insurance as part of what is reportedly a generous and competitive job opportunity in the Spanish capital.

Ronaldo himself revealed his ambitions regarding this venture when he first embarked upon it in 2015, telling CNBC: “I was always dreaming to have my own hotel.”

He added that Pestana Hotel Group – one of his native country’s leading tourism and leisure firms – with its founder/chairman, Dionisio Pestana, was the ideal partner to help him branch out.

“In my opinion, he’s [Pestana] the best guy to do business with in Portugal,” Ronaldo added. “He’s from Madeira too, so it was a good partnership. He has experience, not just in Portugal but all over the world… Dionisio is the number one [in hotels] and I’m the number one in football so, we have everything.

“I’m 100 per cent sure that this is going to be different from others because of my name, the way I live, my ambitions, Dionisio’s ambition too.

“Between this base of people – people who like me, the people who follow me – I think we have all the ingredients to do it. My ambition is kind of like in football, to be better and better. As you know, football is not for your whole life. I want other things.”