Exactly forty days remain until Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr expires, and his extension—or continued stay as the greatest goalscorer in football history in Saudi Arabia—is now shrouded in uncertainty. The Riyadh giant has long fallen out of the title race, and chances are slim that they’ll clinch a spot in the AFC Champions League in the final round of the season.While Ronaldo’s long-term future remains undecided, several clubs participating in the FIFA Club World Cup are exploring short-term deals! Spanish outlet Marca reported a week ago that Brazilian clubs have expressed interest, and now Moroccan side Wydad—one of four African teams competing in the upcoming Club World Cup—is keen on bringing in Ronaldo for a short stint of up to six weeks.🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Moroccan club Wydad AC want to sign Cristiano Ronaldo for the Club World Cup.🇲🇦🤯🤯🗞️ @marca pic.twitter.com/UWrc1GrzGA— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 21, 2025 In preparation for the new tournament, FIFA introduced a special third transfer window from June 1 to June 10, allowing clubs to sign players on short-term loans specifically for the Club World Cup in the United States.Wydad hopes Ronaldo will accept their offer, which could not only add another achievement to his storied career but also provide the club with massive commercial exposure. However, the Casablanca-based club likely won’t be the only suitor.Lionel Messi will also play in the Club World Cup, as his Inter Miami team is grouped with Palmeiras, Porto, and Egyptian side Al Ahly. Meanwhile, Wydad shares a group with Manchester City, Al Ain, and Ronaldo’s former club Juventus. It’s no exaggeration to say FIFA would be thrilled to have both Messi and Ronaldo headline the tournament’s inaugural edition—two icons who defined 21st-century football and filled record books.All 20 FAs of 32 clubs taking part in Club World Cup have decided to open special transfer window from 1-10 June 🔁 pic.twitter.com/GCyfx1z81Y— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 21, 2025 As speculation swirls around Ronaldo’s future, it’s clear that Saudi Arabia is deeply concerned. His departure could signal stagnation—or even decline—for their ambitious football project, of which he was the pioneer.Since arriving in Riyadh on January 1, 2023, Ronaldo opened the floodgates for an influx of global stars and helped trigger an unprecedented investment boom in football on the Arabian Peninsula. A move away isn’t certain, though—he could remain in Saudi Arabia but switch clubs, potentially joining Al Ahli, the only one of the nation’s four major clubs that was promised a marquee signing but never received one. Al Nassr had Ronaldo, Al Hilal got Neymar, Al Ittihad brought in Karim Benzema, and Al Ahli had aimed for Mohamed Salah—but the Egyptian star chose a different path.##NAJAVA_MECA_8939741##
