GENEVA (AP) – The final transfer window is now open for all 32 teams participating in the Club World Cup in the U.S. next month. FIFA announced Wednesday that this could lead to increased speculation regarding a potential short-term signing of Cristiano Ronaldo by one of the teams.
FIFA confirmed that all 20 national federations from the 32 teams have received offers made last year to endorse the special trading period for the upcoming tournament, set to take place on June 14 in Miami.
Under exceptional regulations, transfers can occur from June 1-10 and again from June 27 to July 3, as FIFA approved in October.
“The aim is to motivate clubs and players whose contracts have expired, facilitating their participation,” FIFA stated in a release on Wednesday.
One notable player, Trent Alexander Arnold, is leaving Liverpool with a contract expiration date of June 30. He is anticipated to join Real Madrid, aiming to bring him to the U.S. next month. Liverpool will not be competing in the Club World Cup.
Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr also missed out on qualification, failing to win an Asian Champions League title between 2021 and 2024.
Despite this, speculation continues around the 40-year-old Portuguese superstar potentially making a short-term loan move ahead of the Club World Cup.
This kind of transfer would be unprecedented in modern football, yet it may benefit FIFA by enhancing player profiles and boosting ticket sales for the tournament being hosted in 11 U.S. cities. However, it’s uncertain how many fans will travel to the U.S. for the 63-game event.
A move for Ronaldo would reunite him with Lionel Messi in the same competition for the first time since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Last October, FIFA invited Messi’s Inter Miami to participate in the tournament, initially expected to reserve slots for the Host Nation champion. Although Inter Miami topped the regular season standings, they were ultimately eliminated in the MLS Cup playoffs.
There are speculative reports about Ronaldo potentially joining Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, Brazilian club Palmeiras, and Morocco’s Wydad, though the latter is currently barred by FIFA from registering new signings.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been actively promoting the Club World Cup, having recently met with President Donald Trump, where the new gold trophy was prominently displayed in the Oval Office.
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Source: apnews.com