Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Friendly Games
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Cristiano Ronaldo transfer described as 'science fiction' by rival CEO

talksport.com, 7 December 2024, 14:00
Al Hilal chief executive officer Esteve Calzada has dubbed a possible move to sign Cristiano Ronaldo as 'science fiction'.

The superstar's £170million per season Al-Nassr contract expires in 2025.

And it seemed to present an opportune moment to move to rival Al-Hilal in time for the June Club World Cup.

It's move which could see Inter Miami's Lionel Messi share the pitch with Ronaldo as they did for many iconic years in Spain for Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The forward would also face his former side if he were to jump to the other side of Riyadh as Al-Hilal were drawn into Group H with Real Madrid, RB Salzburg and Pachuca.

However, in an interview with GiveMeSport Calzada said: "That sounds like science fiction.

READ MORE ABOUT RONALDO

Top ten highest goalscorers of all time as Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 900 career goals

European champion immediately chooses between Ronaldo and Messi for a final

"Cristiano Ronaldo is not our player so it's difficult to comment on that. He's not a free agent just now, so it's not nice to talk about that."

January 2023 was the last time we saw Ronaldo and Messi go head-to-head.

Paris Saint-German faced off against the Riyadh All Stars, a Saudi Pro League representative team, which was Ronaldo's debut in Saudi Arabia.

The French team won 5-4 with Messi netting the first and Ronaldo scoring a brace.

Most read in Football

Everton fan has dream crushed after 10,000-mile trip for postponed Liverpool clash

'It makes no sense' - Crystal Palace loanee shut out by his own manager in brutal verdict

Everton v Liverpool called off hours before kick-off as Toffees release statement

Postecoglou's wife was unhappy with tense Spurs fan showdown after defeat

If Ronaldo were to join Al-Hilal he would play alongside Neymar, Joao Cancelo and Premier League cult hero Aleksandr Mitrovic.

Calzada was also questioned about rumours Mohamed Salah could join the side when his Liverpool contract expires next summer.

But the CEO gave little away as he said: "We are not commenting on rumours. We have a policy of not commenting on rumours."

Reportedly Ronaldo has begun contract negotiations with his current club as he is settled in Saudi Arabia and aims to hit 1,000 career goals.

For club he has netted 775 times while his tally for Portugal is 135, so he currently sits just 90 goals away from the four figure number.

The 39-year-old approaches 40 in February but continues to score at an impressive rate with 74 goals in 83 matches for Al-Nassr.

Despite his age he can still display a variety of finishes as his bicycle kick against Poland in November showed.

The Club World Cup gives the Saudi Pro League another opportunity to globalise their product as they aim to develop from a retirement home for stars to a group of world class teams.

Rafael van der Vaart gives bizarre reason to prove Cristiano Ronaldo is the hardest worker in football

Teams within the league have been able to offer life-changing contracts to stars towards the end of their careers, including Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante.

Former Brentford striker Ivan Toney signed a reported £400,000 per week contract with Al-Ahli, numbers which may attract an inform 32-year-old Salah.

"Every side will be strong and is excited to play in this tournament. No one is going to be easy at all," said Calzada.

"This tournament gives us the opportunity to test our level. We have put together what we believe to be a very strong team. It has been very dominant locally. We are very keen to see what will happen when we play the greatest teams in the world.

"We plan to come to this tournament with the biggest ambitions."

Show more

Top News

27 March 2025 talksport.com Jamie Carragher's reaction to Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool exit didn't sit well with talkSPORT's Darren Bent. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will reportedly face competition from Liverpool to sign in-demand Juventus defender Andrea Cambiaso during the summer transfer window. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to snap a six-match winless sequence in the Eredivisie, PEC Zwolle host second-bottom RKC Waalwijk in Saturday's gameweek 27 contest at MAC³PARK Stadion. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly moved closer to reaching a major contract breakthrough in conversations with star forward Mohamed Salah. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off the back of suffering their first defeat of the 2025 MLS campaign, DC United will be looking to bounce back when they play host to Columbus Crew at Audi Field on Saturday. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Antony has dropped a major hint regarding his future at Manchester United, with the attacker suggesting that he will not be returning to the 20-time English champions at the end of the campaign. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Europe-chasing NEC aim for back-to-back Eredivisie wins for the first time since January when they host Champions League hopefuls AZ Alkmaar in Saturday's gameweek 27 fixture at Goffertstadion. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool are confident of reaching an agreement to extend Mohamed Salah's stay at the club, talkSPORT understands. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are among four Blancos players at the heart of a UEFA investigation ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Arsenal. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Udinese defender Oumar Solet during this summer's transfer window. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Facing a make-or-break situation in their faltering bid for the playoffs, Norwich City will host top-six occupants West Bromwich Albion at Carrow Road on Saturday afternoon in a Championship match. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a fourth win on the spin in the MLS for the first time since September 2022, Nashville SC go head to head with FC Cincinnati at Geodis Park on Sunday morning. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday afternoon in the Eredivisie brings us a crucial match in the relegation scrap, with Willem II playing host to Almere City at Koning Willem II Stadion. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United defender Vladimir Coufal has opened up on transfer interest from fellow Premier League clubs Fulham and Everton. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Plymouth Argyle CEO Andrew Parkinson insists Wayne Rooney's doomed appointment was not 'for profile reasons'. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is back training on the grass at London Colney as he enters the final stages of his recovery from a hamstring injury. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to extend their unbeaten run to a sensational 26 matches in the second tier, Burnley will welcome playoff-chasing Bristol City to Turf Moor in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United and Aston Villa are reportedly among a number of clubs keeping tabs on the situation of Noni Madueke at Chelsea. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Premier League rivals Brighton and Nottingham Forest will meet in the FA Cup for the first time ever in their quarter-final clash this weekend. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool fans may have to see Trent Alexander-Arnold in Real Madrid colours even sooner than they think. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly laid out their transfer demands for midfielder Kobbie Mainoo ahead of his possible exit from Old Trafford this summer. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fallen giants Juventus start the post-Thiago Motta era on Saturday evening, when they welcome Genoa to Turin. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Sunderland continue their push for promotion to the Premier League this weekend, as they host Millwall in the Championship on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to boost their hopes of qualifying for Europe, Wolfsburg welcome relegation-threatened Heidenheim to Volkswagen Arena for a Bundesliga clash on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Jamie Carragher's son got himself a prize souvenir from his first ever international break with Malta. 27 March 2025 talksport.com Fulham host London rivals Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend and they'll be kicking off earlier than normal. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fortuna Sittard will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Eredivisie this weekend when they take on Sparta Rotterdam at Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hoffenheim will be looking to move themselves clear of the Bundesliga relegation zone when they welcome European-chasing Augsburg to Rhein-Neckar Arena on Saturday afternoon. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and one other Premier League club have reportedly been alerted to the possibility of a cut-price deal for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan this summer. 27 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Stockport County host struggling Burton Albion in League One this weekend, as the Hatters edge closer to securing a playoff berth this season.