Tennis world number one Rafa Nadal has become a shareholder at financially troubled Real Mallorca, the Spanish league side said on Thursday.
"It's an honour to be able to help Real Mallorca, I will help in any way I can," Wimbledon champion Nadal was quoted as saying on the club website (www.rcdmallorca.com).
"I am proud to be a part of this new project put together by Mallorca locals. I am very pleased to have (Michael) Laudrup as the new coach and as the image for the club."
Nadal, a Real Madrid fan, was born and lives in Manacor on the Mediterranean island.
His uncle Miguel Angel Nadal, the former Barcelona and Spain defender, will be number two to Laudrup, who was appointed to replace Gregorio Manzano last week.
Mallorca are struggling with debts of up to 85 million euros ($104 million), are in voluntary administration, and have just been taken over by a consortium led by a former coach Llorenc Serra Ferrer.
They finished fifth in La Liga last May earning a place in next season's Europa League.
Nadal to visit South Africa to watch FIFA WC final
Football-mad tennis star Rafael Nadal will be in Johannesburg on Sunday to watch his country Spain battle The Netherlands in the historic World Cup final.
Nadal revealed through his website: "We usually see football players in boxes when Rafa is playing, but this time their roles will be changed. Rafa Nadal will be in South Africa Sunday supporting the Spanish team."
The announcement came only hours after the world number one hinted that knee treatment would require him to stay in Europe, Sports24 reported.
But the two-time Wimbledon winner seems to have quickly relaxed that restriction after Spain beat Germany 1-0 on Wednesday night.
Rafa watched the match at home (in Majorca) with his family, and, once the match finished, he went out to celebrate the triumph with the rest of the people.
