Cristiano Ronaldo certainly isn’t the first player to find himself in a grim situation. Notably, his record-breaking contract with Al Nassr will end on May 31. The deal, reportedly worth over £170 million a year, has prompted speculation about his next move after he hinted at leaving the Saudi Arabian club following their final match of the Saudi Pro League season.
Last night, Ronaldo did nothing to dispel the notion that his time at Al Nassr is nearing an end. He expressed gratitude for his experiences, stating, “The chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.” His comments have given real life to the speculation that he too could soon be on the move.
The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup presents a unique opportunity for Ronaldo, who could utilize a special transfer window set up by FIFA between June 1 and June 10 to sign with a new team. This period provides critical time for clubs to make strategic moves to their rosters before the tournament kicks off.
There have also been nagging reports that discussions have already occurred with interested clubs foreshadowing the eventual signing of the star player. Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president, hinted at the possibility of Ronaldo playing in the tournament: “Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup… who knows, who knows?” No doubt a move like this would increase the desirability of the event and increase ticket sales.
His current club, Al Nassr, will be absent from the tournament. The other Riyadh rivals, Al Hilal, will take pride of place as Saudi Arabia’s flag bearers. All together with two of Ronaldo’s former clubs, Real Madrid and Juventus. The larger tournament gets underway on the beaches of Miami on June 15th. See you on June 18, when Real Madrid will take on Saudi champions Al Hilal in their first game!
Clubs will have an in-tournament club registration window from June 27 – July 3. Incredibly, during this time, they can both add new players after the group stages. Various outlets have reported that talks are advanced for Ronaldo to play in the U.S. They’ve decided to weigh in off the record.
Fellow Brazilian club Botafogo are reportedly pursuing his signature as well and are making a compelling play. They’re apparently prepared to bring him in on a cameo basis. It’s a new format entirely, and under its current structure it is held only every four years. At 40 years of age, this will be Ronaldo’s last chance to play in the cricketing world cup’s most coveted event.
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