Cristiano Ronaldo says he's almost certain he will not be playing at the Club World Cup, dealing a blow to FIFA president Gianni Infantino바카라™s hopes of having one of soccer바카라™s biggest attractions at the tournament.
The Portugal captain confirmed Saturday that he received 바카라śquite a few바카라ť offers from participating clubs to play for them at the tournament starting June 14, but had decided against accepting any of them.
바카라śSome things make sense to talk about, other things don바카라™t, and, as a person says, you can바카라™t take part in everything,바카라ť Ronaldo said. 바카라śYou have to think about the short, medium and long term. It바카라™s a decision practically made on my part not to go to the Club World Cup, but I바카라™ve had quite a few invitations to go.바카라ť
The 40-year-old soccer great was speaking in Munich a day before Portugal바카라™s Nations League final against Spain.
Infantino had suggested last month that Ronaldo, who is still contracted to Saudi team Al-Nassr until the end of June, could switch to one of the 32 clubs taking part in the Club World Cup because of a unique transfer window created for the tournament.
Ronaldo did little to quell that speculation when he posted 바카라ś this chapter is over 바카라ť after Al-Nassr's last Saudi Pro League game of the season.
He was linked with several Club World Cup participants, including Brazil바카라™s Palmeiras.
A switch to Al-Nassr바카라™s crosstown rival Al-Hilal 바카라“ the one Saudi club that qualified 바카라“ was also mooted as a potential solution to having Ronaldo play at the tournament, where his great rival Lionel Messi will be playing with Inter Miami.
FIFA would have welcomed the boost that Ronaldo바카라™s presence could provide for ticket sales, though such a switch to a bitter local rival for a short period would be unthinkable for players in Europe바카라™s leagues.
Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are among the four big Saudi clubs backed by the country바카라™s Public Investment Fund, which has a 75% stake in each. On Thursday, FIFA announced PIF as an 바카라ś official partner 바카라ť of the Club World Cup. Saudi state money is also effectively funding the tournament바카라™s broadcasting deal that has largely backed its $1 billion prize fund being shared among the participants.
바카라śThis is irrelevant right now,바카라ť Ronaldo first said when asked Saturday about the Club World Cup. 바카라śIt makes no sense to talk about anything other than the national team.바카라ť
Ronaldo fired Portugal into the Nations League final on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over host nation Germany.
His winning goal was his record-extending 137th for Portugal. If he plays Sunday he will make his record-extending 221st national team appearance.
