After declining offers from competing teams, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has announced that he will not be playing in this month’s Club World Cup.
At the end of June, the 40-year-old’s contract with Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club, expires.
Following Al-Nassr’s inability to qualify, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in May that Ronaldo would join a team competing in the Club World Cup.
“I will not be at the Club World Cup,” said Ronaldo.
“Some teams reached out to me. Some made sense and others did not, but you can’t try and do everything. You can’t catch every ball.”
Ronaldo said on social media that “the chapter is over,” sparking rumors that he was about to be traded.
But according to insiders who spoke to BBC Sport, the team is certain that Ronaldo’s contract will be extended.
Ronaldo declared that a decision on his future was “almost final” before Sunday’s Nations League final against Portugal and Spain at 20:00 BST.
Following the expiration of his contract with Manchester United, the striker joined Al-Nassr in 2023.
In his 111 club appearances, he has scored 99 goals, including 35 in 41 games during the previous season.
Portugal defeated Germany 2-1 on Wednesday, with Ronaldo scoring the game-winning goal to secure Portugal’s place in the Nations League final.
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