FIFA President Gianni Infantino believes Cristiano Ronaldo could play in the Club World Cup thanks to a new transfer window that will open in the days before the tournament, BTA reported.
Ronaldo's Saudi club, Al Nassr, did not qualify for the Club World Cup, but Infantino suggested the Portuguese star could move to one of the 32 teams playing in the competition in the United States, starting next month.
“Cristiano Ronaldo could play in the Club World Cup“, Infantino told online streamer IShowSpeed, whose YouTube channel has over 39 million subscribers. "There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and interested in signing Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, who knows. There are still a few weeks, it will be fun.“
On Wednesday, FIFA confirmed that last-minute signings are open to all teams participating in the tournament, fueling further speculation that one of them will try to bring in the 40-year-old Ronaldo on a short-term deal, potentially on loan.
Such a move would be unprecedented in modern football, although it could please FIFA by boosting the popularity and ticket sales of the inaugural tournament, which is being played in 11 cities in the United States. A Ronaldo transfer would also reunite him and Lionel Messi in the same competition for the first time since the 2022 World Cup. in Qatar.
Last October, FIFA invited Messi's Inter Miami to compete in the tournament in the place that was expected to be reserved for the champion of the host country. Inter Miami was eliminated in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Speculative reports have linked Ronaldo with the only Saudi club to qualify, Al Hilal, Brazilian club Palmeiras and Wydad of Morocco, although that club is currently banned by FIFA from registering new players.
Transfers can take place from June 1 to 10 and again from June 27 to July 3, under exceptional rules approved by FIFA in October. “The aim is to encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the participation of players,“ FIFA said in a statement on Wednesday.