Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed his decision not to participate in the Club World Cup, scheduled to kick off in the United States on June 14, despite receiving interest from several clubs. The Al-Nassr forward`s contract status is currently uncertain, leading to speculation he might sign a short-term deal with another team specifically for the tournament before finalizing his long-term plans. However, speaking ahead of Portugal`s match against Spain on Sunday, Ronaldo addressed these rumors directly.
“I will not be at the Club World Cup,” Ronaldo stated. “Some teams contacted me. Some proposals were logical and others were not, but you can`t try and do everything. You can`t catch every ball.”
Al-Hilal, another club in the Saudi Pro League, was reportedly one of the teams interested in securing his services. This potential move generated significant discussion within Saudi Arabia, as both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. A transfer of a player with Ronaldo`s profile between these two clubs could potentially be viewed negatively. Additionally, Brazilian clubs and Mexico`s Monterrey were also linked as possible destinations for the veteran forward.
Currently, Ronaldo is in discussions regarding his contract status with the PIF and high-ranking Saudi officials, who are reportedly keen on keeping the star player in Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr has apparently offered assurances to improve the team`s competitiveness in the league, with names like Luiz Diaz and David Hanko mentioned as potential recruitment targets. While these efforts may ultimately persuade him to stay, it is now clear that he will not be participating in the upcoming Club World Cup with a different team.
