Rafael Nadal launches new idea after making £70 million profit from current deal

Simon

Rafael Nadal has taken on a new project weeks after making a mega-money deal.

Rafael Nadal has announced his latest project – a new edition of the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre in Marbella.

The retired former No. 1 has several tennis centres and academies worldwide.

Nadal’s latest venture comes after he made £70million by selling shares in his academy group.

Nadal currently has academies in Greece, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Mexico and his hometown of Manacor, Mallorca. He is also set to open a base in Saudi Arabia as part of his role as a Saudi Tennis Ambassador.

The 22-time Major champion is now venturing out to the Costa del Sol. His new Marbella tennis centre will be set within the Hotel Don Carlos.

The facility will have seven clay courts and two padel courts, a Nike and Babolat shop, and a small exhibition showcasing some of Nadal’s trophies.

The 38-year-old already has a museum at his academy in Mallorca which exhibits his own trophies and match kit, as well as signed memorabilia from the likes of Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Lionel Messi.

Confirming the news of his new tennis centre, Nadal said: “I am very happy that we are officially announcing the launch of a new Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Marbella, as it consolidates our expansion project within Spain.

“I am sure that sports fans will really enjoy our programmes at these magnificent facilities.”

According to La Voz de Ibiza, earlier this month, Nadal sold 44.9 per cent of his shares in the academy for just under £79m (€95m) to private investment firm GPF Capital.

Nadal’s holding company Aspemir made a staggering profit of £70m (€85m) as part of the deal. The retired tennis star remained the main owner of his Mallorcan academy.

GPF Capital initially bought an undisclosed stake in the academy in November 2023.

At the time, founding partner Martin Rodriguez-Fraile said: “GPF is firmly committed to investing in education and sports as fundamental pillars of society, and no project brings them together better than the Rafa Nadal Academy.”

The Marbella tennis centre is one of the first big projects Nadal has taken on since retiring from professional tennis at the Davis Cup Finals in November.

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