Not even Saudi Arabia’s vast wealth or FIFA President Gianni Infantino could bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the Club World Cup.
Infantino had publicly hinted at the possibility last month, saying during an interview with YouTuber iShowSpeed, “If any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup…”
With Ronaldo’s contract at Al-Nassr nearing its end and FIFA allowing a special mini transfer window for the tournament, there was speculation of a short-term switch to Al Hilal—Saudi Arabia’s most decorated club and the nation’s only representative at the event.
But Al Hilal and Al-Nassr are fierce rivals in Riyadh, and even though both clubs are backed by the country’s sovereign wealth fund, the idea of such a switch was too much.
“As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognize he is, it’s certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you,” Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada told the BBC. “Even more when it’s only for three to four weeks.”
Despite the rejection, the fact that a move was even considered shows how far Saudi Arabia is willing to go to cement its place in global sport. The kingdom has already transformed professional golf, dominates the boxing scene, hosts F1 races, and has attracted world-class tennis.
Its football ambitions are even more aggressive: winning the bid for the 2034 World Cup, purchasing Premier League club Newcastle United, and bringing in global stars since Ronaldo’s arrival in late 2022.
Al Hilal, a four-time Asian champion, was expected to showcase a marquee name at the Club World Cup. Neymar, signed for $94 million in 2023, was released in January after a serious injury limited him to seven appearances. The club also approached Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes before the tournament, but he declined.
Nevertheless, Al Hilal features top-tier signings such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Ruben Neves. But perhaps the most notable addition is coach Simone Inzaghi, who left Inter Milan this month to lead the Saudi giants.
“My ambition, the ambition of the club, is to try to grow more, to try to make Al Hilal become one of the best football clubs,” Inzaghi said before his debut against Real Madrid at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. “I believe the time has come to get out of my comfort zone.”
The clash between Real Madrid and Al Hilal symbolizes football’s shifting balance: Europe’s old powerhouse against a rising Middle Eastern force.
“Sometimes we just focus on what’s going on in Europe, and we think there’s nothing else beyond Europe. We’re too focused on Europe,” said Madrid coach Xabi Alonso.
Courtesy: AP
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