Portuguese legend says he has received “many invitations” but will not feature in the global tournament, keeping fans guessing about his next club move.
Germany:
Ahead of the highly anticipated UEFA Nations League final against Spain, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has officially ruled out participating in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. The 40-year-old Portuguese forward made the announcement during a pre-match press conference, putting to rest swirling speculation about a possible move to one of the tournament’s participating clubs.
“It’s almost decided that I will not take part at the FIFA Club World Cup despite receiving many invitations and proposals,” Ronaldo told reporters. “There have been talks, contacts… but you have to think about short, medium, and long term.”
Ronaldo, currently in Germany with the Portuguese national team, has become the center of intense transfer rumors in recent weeks, particularly following a cryptic social media post after Al-Nassr’s final game of the season in May: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.” The message sparked speculation that his time with the Saudi Arabian club might be ending.
With Ronaldo’s contract at Al-Nassr set to expire this June, reports have linked him with several destinations, including domestic rival Al-Hilal, Major League Soccer in the U.S., Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca, and a potential emotional return to his boyhood club, Sporting CP in Portugal.
Despite a reportedly massive £167 million-per-year offer from Al-Nassr to stay, Ronaldo remains cautious. “Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can’t try and do everything, you can’t catch every ball,” he remarked, suggesting that while the decision on his future is nearly final, he is taking time to consider all angles.
As Ronaldo prepares to lead Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday, fans and clubs around the world remain eager to see what’s next for the legendary forward.
