Al Nassr and Portugal ahead Cristiano Ronaldo mentioned on Saturday he didn’t plan to play on the Membership World Cup in the USA, regardless of being courted by golf equipment taking part within the expanded 32-team event.
Hypothesis over the 40-year-old’s future intensified final month when FIFA president Gianni Infantino mentioned discussions have been underway about Ronaldo, who’s out of contract on the finish of the month, taking part in within the Membership World Cup, regardless of Al Nassr failing to qualify.
Al Nassr’s sporting director Fernando Hierro mentioned final month they have been negotiating with Ronaldo over a contract extension however confronted competitors from a number of golf equipment desperate to signal the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Ronaldo himself added to the uncertainty after Al Nassr’s season-ending match at Al Fateh, posting on social media: “This chapter is over. The story? Nonetheless being written.”
Requested about the potential for signing for one more membership within the coming days with a view to play on the Membership World Cup later this month, Ronaldo informed reporters: “It is irrelevant, in the intervening time it does not make sense to speak about issues aside from the nationwide crew.
“There was loads of contact [from clubs], I see issues that make sense, others that do not. You may’t go to all of them [clubs], you must suppose quick, medium and long run.
“It is one thing that is virtually selected my half, which isn’t to go to the Membership World Cup, however I’ve had loads of invites.”
On Wednesday, Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal beat Germany 2-1 to enter the Nations League last, the place they’ll face Spain.
Many have labelled Sunday’s last as a face-off between Ronaldo and 17-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal however the Portuguese ahead mentioned he didn’t see it as such.
“It is at all times been like that, each time I’ve performed soccer, each time I’ve performed an enormous recreation it is at all times been Cristiano towards this one, towards that one,” he mentioned.
“It has been 20-something years and it is nonetheless the identical, it does not hold me up at evening anymore, it is a regular factor. They’re fully totally different generations, a technology that is beginning out, one other that is ending, which is my case.
“In actuality it isn’t like that, it is a crew towards a crew. It’ll at all times be like that… What I would like most is for Portugal to be at a very good stage, assured that issues can go effectively, that we will play an important recreation and win towards an excellent crew, probably the perfect on this planet.”
