Recent rumors linking Cristiano Ronaldo to Egyptian club Al-Ahly during the winter transfer window have been completely debunked.
The speculation stemmed from Al-Ahly’s inclusion in Group A of the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will face Inter Miami, Lionel Messi’s current team.
This fueled claims that Ronaldo might join Al-Ahly to renew his rivalry with Messi on an international stage.
Official clarification from Esteve Calzada
The rumors were laid to rest following comments from Esteve Calzada, CEO of Al-Hilal, who dismissed the idea as “science fiction.”
🚨🇸🇦 Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada on club linked with Ronaldo to share World Cup stage with Messi: “That sounds like science fiction”.
“CR7 is not our player so it's difficult to comment on that. He's not a free agent now, it's not nice to talk about that”, told @GiveMeSport. pic.twitter.com/ppQ6jDuewl
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 12, 2024
Calzada emphasized that Ronaldo, at 39 years old, is deeply focused on his career goals and personal life, making such a move highly improbable.
He also noted that linking Ronaldo to a temporary transfer purely for the sake of rekindling a rivalry is unrealistic and does not align with the Portuguese superstar’s current priorities.
Ronaldo’s commitment to Al-Nassr
Cristiano Ronaldo remains committed to his journey with Al-Nassr, where he has consistently demonstrated his high level of performance.
Despite the break in competitive matches until January 2025, Ronaldo is dedicated to rigorous training to ensure he maintains peak fitness for the resumption of the season.
Moving beyond speculation
This clarification puts an end to the rumors and refocuses attention on Ronaldo’s goals with Al-Nassr.
As the FIFA Club World Cup approaches, the narrative will now shift away from speculative transfers and back to the football itself, where both Ronaldo and Messi continue to inspire fans worldwide.