Al-Hilal CEO: “Signing Ronaldo? That Would Be Madness.”
As the FIFA Club World Cup heats up, Al-Hilal’s CEO Esteve Calzada has shut down rumors linking his club with a shock loan move for none other than Cristiano Ronaldo — calling the idea “completely counter-intuitive.”
With Ronaldo’s contract at Al-Nassr ending in June and FIFA introducing a special transfer window ahead of the tournament, rumors were flying. But Calzada says the idea never made sense.
🗣️ “You Don’t Bring Your Rival’s Icon – Even for Four Weeks”
“As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, bringing him from our biggest rival for just three or four weeks? That’s not how we work,”
Calzada told BBC Sport.
He emphasized that both clubs are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), but loyalty and identity still matter — especially in Riyadh’s fierce football rivalry.
⏳ FIFA's Surprise Transfer Window Shakes Things Up
FIFA’s extra transfer window was meant to give clubs flexibility ahead of the new-look Club World Cup. But Calzada called the short timeframe "very weird" and said Al-Hilal had no interest in quick, short-term signings.
“You don’t make a 3-week move that affects your squad for 3 years,” he explained.
🛑 No Panic Buys, No Vacation Mode
Al-Hilal explored some reinforcements but ran into common problems:
-
Players in holiday mindset
-
Others asking for outrageous money
-
And ultimately, a belief that the current squad is already strong
“We’ll go into the traditional transfer window after the tournament — with big ambitions,” Calzada added.
.jpg)