Chelsea sign Strasbourg defender Mamadou Sarr on eight-year deal
The France Under-19 international played 27 times in Ligue 1 last season, his first full campaign in the top flight, as they – managed by Liam Rosenior – finished seventh to qualify for the Conference League.
Strasbourg are owned by Chelsea's parent company BlueCo, with Sarr to become the latest player to have spent time at both clubs.
Welcome to Chelsea, Mamadou Sarr! 🔵
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 9, 2025
Central defence is considered a priority for strengthening this summer after a season in which injuries badly disrupted that area of the pitch.
First-choice Wesley Fofana made only 14 appearances in the Premier League last term and his availability prospects are a concern, the former Leicester defender having been fit to play just 29 times in the league in the three seasons since he moved to Stamford Bridge.
At 19, Sarr is unlikely to be put straight into the team, meaning at present, Enzo Maresca's side are dependent on Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile as their fit senior central defenders ahead of the Club World Cup.
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SE Palmeiras 2. FC Porto 3. Inter Miami 4. Al Ahly 👉 Group A betting tip Porto aren't as strong as they used to be, so with superior squad depth and tournament experience, the Brazilians look like a good value bet to finish top. 🏟️ Group A fixtures: Al Ahly vs Inter Miami, Sunday, 15 June, 01:00 BST, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Palmeiras vs Porto, Sunday, 15 June, 23:00 BST, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Palmeiras vs Al Ahly, Thursday, 19 June, 17:00 BST, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Inter Miami vs Porto, Thursday, 19 June, 20:00 BST, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Inter Miami vs Palmeiras, Tuesday, 24 June, 02:00 BST, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Porto vs Al Ahly, Tuesday, 24 June, 02:00 BST, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 📺 Group A must-see match Inter Miami CF vs Porto – This could be the match that decides who will qualify for the Round of 16, and with Messi in action, the match will attract global attention. Group B Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) The 2025 Champions League winners are the hottest team in club football and are rightly one of the favorites to win the title. After the departure of underperforming star names, Luis Enrique has rebuilt PSG, and now boasts one of the most talented squads in world football. With the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to call upon, it would be no surprise to see PSG land another big trophy. Atlético de Madrid (ESP) A tournament side built for grinding results, Atlético will be tough for anyone to break down. Diego Simeone's disciplined approach, combined with physical intensity and moments of attacking quality, makes them one of the most difficult teams to face. They're unlikely to blow teams away, but they'll be consistent, and after underperforming in La Liga and the Champions League, this competition offers Simeone's team a chance to create some history. Botafogo (BRA) Botafogo's defence of the Campeonato Brasileiro hasn't got off to the best of starts, and that won't give them a great deal of confidence in what looks like a very tough group. Nevertheless, just appearing here is a big moment for the club. However, their lack of recent experience in international knockout competition may show, and while the Brazilians are well able to keep it tight at the back, they lack the attacking weapons needed to break down the two European teams in the group. Seattle Sounders FC (USA) Seattle brings a well-structured squad with a strong team ethic and considerable experience in tournament play. They will be disappointed to have only made it to the last 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and although they have made a steady start in the MLS Western Conference, they have won less than half their games this season. The Sounders lack the star names of their European counterparts, and a top-two finish would be a major surprise in this tough-looking group. 👉 Group B betting tip With PSG's current form, there can be no other choice. 🏟️ Group B fixtures: Paris Saint-Germain vs Atlético Madrid, Sunday, 15 June, 20:00 BST, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles Botafogo vs Seattle Sounders, Monday, 16 June, 03:00 BST, Lumen Field, Seattle Seattle Sounders vs Atlético Madrid, Thursday, 19 June, 20:00 BST, Lumen Field, Seattle Paris Saint-Germain vs Botafogo, Thursday, 19 June, 23:00 BST, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles Seattle Sounders vs Paris Saint-Germain, Monday, 23 June, 17:00 BST, Lumen Field, Seattle Atlético Madrid vs Botafogo, Monday, 23 June, 17:00 BST, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles 📺 Group B must-see match Paris Saint-Germain vs Atlético de Madrid - A clash of styles between PSG's flair and Atlético's grit. This matchup should decide who wins the group. Group C Bayern Munich (GER) Bayern arrive as one of the tournament favourites, brimming with confidence after reclaiming their Bundesliga title from Leverkusen. Their high-pressing style imposed by head coach Vincent Kompany, subsidised by the goals of Harry Kane, make Bayern an intimidating prospect for any opponent. Expect dominant performances and plenty of goals as the German giants aim to assert their superiority early. Auckland City FC (NZL) The Oceania champions have become regulars at the Club World Cup, but the step up in class here will be immense. While the Navy Blues are a disciplined and well-coached team, Paul Posa's outfit lacks the sort of quality and technical sharpness to match their group rivals. Earning even a point would be a big achievement in such a competitive pool. CA Boca Juniors (ARG) Boca Juniors have had a troubled season that resulted in Fernando Gago leaving the club in April. After an interim period with Mariano Herrón in charge, Miguel Ángel Russo was appointed as the new manager at the beginning of June. The Argentine outfit will be hoping the veteran manager will be able to stabilise performances in his third spell at the club. SL Benfica (POR) Benfica are an exciting, attack-minded team capable of playing fluid football and disrupting more established sides. They will see the Club World Cup as an opportunity to get something out of a disappointing season that saw them narrowly miss out on both the Primeira Liga title and Taça de Portugal to bitter rivals Sporting. 👉 Group C betting tip The Germans quality and tournament experience make them clear front-runners in this group. 🏟️ Group C fixtures: Bayern Munich vs Auckland City, Sunday, 15 June, 17:00 BST, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati Boca Juniors vs Benfica, Monday, 16 June, 23:00 BST, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Benfica vs Auckland City, Friday, 20 June, 17:00 BST, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando Bayern Munich vs Boca Juniors, Saturday, 21 June, 02:00 BST, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Auckland City vs Boca Juniors, Tuesday, 24 June, 20:00 BST, GEODIS Park, Nashville Benfica vs Bayern Munich, Tuesday, 24 June, 20:00 BST, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 📺 Group C must-see match Boca Juniors vs Benfica - Can Boca Juniors put their troubles behind them and see off the legendary Benfica? This match looks set to decide who qualifies from the group, along with Bayern. Group D CR Flamengo (BRA) After a fast start to the current Campeonato Brasileiro season, Flamengo will come into the tournament with serious ambitions. Filipe Luís is in his first full season in charge of the team, and with a technically gifted squad at his disposal, the inexperienced head coach will hope his free-scoring outfit can replicate their league form on the world stage. Don't be fooled into believing that Flamengo are one-dimensional. As well as being the highest scorers in the Brazilian top flight, they also boast the tightest defence, having only conceded four times in their eleven matches. Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN) Espérance has a proud history and a reputation as one of Africa's top clubs. Although they'll be underdogs here, their physical style and strong team cohesion could make them a tough matchup for more fancied sides. Head coach Maher Kanzari has just led them to the Tunisian league title. Despite this success, it's hard to see the Tunsians getting out of their group. Chelsea FC (ENG) After a poor start to 2025, Chelsea have finished their domestic season strongly with a fourth place Premier League finish and a win in the Europa Conference League final. Although the Blues have struggled on the road, they will come into the competition full of confidence and certainly can't be taken lightly by any of the more established clubs. Los Angeles FC (USA) Los Angeles FC only qualified for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup by defeating Club América 2-1 in extra time during a special playoff at the end of May. The playoff was arranged after Club León, the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League winners, were disqualified due to FIFA's multi-club ownership rules. As runners-up in that tournament, LAFC were given another chance to qualify, facing Club América. Denis Bouanga scored the decisive goal in extra time, securing LAFC's spot in the expanded 32-team competition. 👉 Group D betting tip Back the in-form Londoners to edge out the Brazilian champions in a tight group. 🏟️ Group D fixtures: Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC, Monday, 16 June, 20:00 BST, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Flamengo vs Espérance de Tunis, Tuesday, 17 June, 02:00 BST, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Flamengo vs Chelsea, Friday, 20 June, 19:00 BST, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Los Angeles FC vs Espérance de Tunis, Friday, 20 June, 22:00 BST, GEODIS Park, Nashville Espérance de Tunis vs Chelsea, Wednesday, 25 June, 02:00 BST, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Los Angeles FC vs Flamengo, Wednesday, 25 June, 02:00 BST, Camping World Stadium, Orlando 📺 Group D must-see match CR Flamengo vs Chelsea FC - A blockbuster clash featuring top talent from South America and Europe. Likely to determine who finishes top of the group and an early guide on how the tournament might play out. Group E CA River Plate (ARG) River Plate brings tradition, tactical discipline, and passionate support into the tournament. Their recent form in CONMEBOL competitions shows they can compete with the best, with Marcelo Gallardo's team clinching their place in the Round of 16 with a match to spare after a 6-2 win over Independiente del Valle on Matchday 5. The Argentines are among the favourites to win this group. Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) Urawa Red Diamonds are one of Asia's most consistent continental performers, but they'll face a serious step up in quality here. Quick transitions and defensive discipline will be their strengths, but whether they can break down elite defences or contain River and Inter is another question. Along with Monterrey, the J1 League outfit are huge outsiders to progress. CF Monterrey (MEX) Monterrey has a strong track record in international competitions. There is a good mix of physicality and technicality within their ranks, but it isn't likely to be enough to compete with both River Plate and Inter. Domènec Torrent has just been appointed the team's new head coach ahead of the competition, but the reality is that the Club World Cup is more likely a chance for Torrent to get to know his players ahead of the new Liga MX season. Inter Milan (ITA) Inter are a well-oiled machine, and their European pedigree makes them a major threat. Defensively resolute, tactically mature, and boasting attacking depth, they'll be one of the most complete sides in the competition. Whether they will have sufficiently recovered from the dual shock of their Champions League final mauling and exit of head coach Simone Inzaghi remains to be seen. Despite this, we still expect the Italians to win the group. 👉 Group E betting tip Inter Milan should win the group, but after the battering and upheaval of the recent weeks, it might be worth having a sneaky wager on River Plate at 9/4, if you feel the 2/5 on Inter topping the table is too short. 🏟️ Group E fixtures: River Plate vs Urawa Red Diamonds, Tuesday, 17 June , 20:00 BST, Lumen Field, Seattle Monterrey vs Inter Milan, Wednesday, 18 June, 02:00 BST, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles Inter Milan vs Urawa Red Diamonds, Saturday, 21 June, 20:00 BST, Lumen Field, Seattle River Plate vs Monterrey, Sunday, 22 June, 02:00 BST, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles Inter Milan vs River Plate, Thursday, 26 June, 02:00 BST, Lumen Field, Seattle Urawa Red Diamonds vs Monterrey, Thursday, 26 June, 02:00 BST, Rose Bowl Stadium, Los Angeles 📺 Group E must-see match Inter Milan vs River Plate - A massive fixture between the Champions League runners-up and the legendary Argentines is likely to decide the group winners. Group F Fluminense FC (BRA) The 2023 Copa Libertadores champions are attempting to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 that saw them finish down in 14th position in the Campeonato Brasileiro. Fluminense come into the competition on a three match unbeaten run if they can build on that momentum, they are a good bet to win one of the less competitive groups. Borussia Dortmund (GER) For the most part, the Germans had a very disappointing season in the Bundesliga. But, a strong finish to the campaign saw the 2024 Champions League beaten finalists sneak into the top four and next season's elite UEFA competition. A bit like Fluminense, BVB seem to have perfectly timed their run back into top form. Ulsan HD (KOR) Ulsan are a disciplined and well-drilled side, but they'll be major underdogs against the firepower of Fluminense and Dortmund. Their defensive structure will be tested heavily, and their best chance at points may come against Sundowns. They could be a frustrating opponent, but at 12/1 to win the group, progression to the Round of 16 would be a huge surprise. Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA) The South African champions have just completed an eighth successive PSL win. They were comfortably the best team in the division, winning 24 out of 28 of their league matches. However, against the tactical sharpness and speed of their group rivals, the Sundowns will struggle and will likely be competing for third place with Ulsan. 👉 Group F betting tip Fluminense FC to be the Group F winner at 2/1 looks a great bet. The bookies seem to have decided it's Dortmund's to lose by making the Germans the 8/15 favourites, but we prefer the look of Fluminense to top the table at 2/1 with talkSPORT BET. 🏟️ Group F fixtures: Fluminense vs Borussia Dortmund, Tuesday, 17 June, 17:00 BST, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Ulsan HD vs Mamelodi Sundowns, Tuesday, 17 June, 23:00 BST, Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando Mamelodi Sundowns vs Borussia Dortmund, Saturday, 21 June, 17:00 BST, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati Fluminense vs Ulsan HD, Saturday, 21 June, 23:00 BST, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD, Wednesday, 25 June, 20:00 BST, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati Mamelodi Sundowns vs Fluminense, Wednesday, 25 June, 20:00 BST, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami 📺 Group F must-see match Fluminense FC vs Borussia Dortmund - This is the match that will decide the group, and it will be interesting to see which of the two in-form teams comes out on top. Group G Manchester City (ENG) Manchester City were the kings of European football in 2023, but they have been in decline ever since. This culminated with their third place in the 2024/25 Premier League season, their worst league finish under Pep Guardiola since 2017. City did finish the season strongly, and can't be taken lightly by anyone in this competition. But with a rebuild currently taking place, expectations will be lower than normal for the Cityzens. Wydad AC (MAR) Wydad are a physical, compact side that thrives on discipline and set-piece threats. While they've had success in African competitions, the quality gap against teams like City and Juventus will be stark. A spirited performance could see them steal a result, but the reality is, the Moroccans are playing for third. Al Ain FC (UAE) Al Ain were runners-up in a smaller Club World Cup edition held in 2018. The 14-times UAE Pro-League winners lost 4-1 to Real Madrid in the final after a shock penalty shoot out win over River Plate at the semi-finals stage. With a larger format in place for the 2025 edition, there is little to no chance of a repeat of 2018. Getting out of the group would be regarded as a huge success this time around. Juventus FC (ITA) Like Manchester City, Juventus have also had a poor 2024/25 season. The Old Lady of Italian football finished fourth in Serie A, 12 points behind champions Napoli. Nevertheless, Juventus are still a huge name and they did record a Champions League win over City in the group stages of the competition. It's hard to see them winning this event, but they should comfortably get out of the group, albeit probably in second place. 👉 Group G betting tip Manchester City to be the Group G winner at 2/5 with BetMGM has to be the bet. Despite City's recent struggles, Juventus are in no better shape. 🏟️ Group G fixtures: Manchester City vs Wydad AC, Wednesday, 18 June, 17:00 BST, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Al Ain vs Juventus, Thursday, 19 June, 02:00 BST, Audi Field, Washington, D.C. Juventus vs Wydad AC, Sunday, 22 June, 17:00 BST, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Manchester City vs Al Ain, Monday, 23 June, 02:00 BST, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Juventus vs Manchester City, Thursday, 26 June, 20:00 BST, Camping World Stadium, Orlando Wydad AC vs Al Ain, Thursday, 26 June, 20:00 BST, Audi Field, Washington, D.C. 📺 Group G must-see match They may both be underperforming, but Manchester City vs Juventus is still the stand out fixture of this group. The loser is likely to play Real Madrid in the next round, so plenty is at stake. Group H Real Madrid C.F. (ESP) Real Madrid are synonymous with success on the global stage, but by their high standards, the 2024/25 season was a huge setback. Los Blancos finished runners-up to Barcelona in all three of their domestic competitions. But despite this, Madrid did win the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, so the season wasn't a complete disaster. Xabi Alonso will be in the dugout for the Club World Cup, and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see his Madrid team lift the trophy. Al Hilal (KSA) The Saudi giants have made major waves in recent years, none more so than the recent signing of Simone Inzaghi as their new head coach. The Champions League runner-up boss will inherit a squad packed with talent, with big names like Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who all boast recent Premier League experience. CF Pachuca (MEX) Pachuca haven't had a great time domestically, but they did make it to the final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, where they lost 3-0 to Real Madrid in the final. The December 2024 defeat to Los Blancos was more comprehensive than perhaps the scoreline suggests, and highlights the gulf in class the Mexicans are going to have to overcome to make a mark on this competition. FC Salzburg (AUT) Salzburg are a well-drilled, youthful side with a strong track record of developing future stars. Under the guidance of Thomas Letsch, the Red Bull-backed club finished second in the Austrian Bundesliga and successfully navigated two qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League group stage. However, that proved to be their limit. The Austrians suffered seven defeats in eight matches and finished third from bottom in the 36-team group. It's hard to see Salzburg making much of an impact in this competition. 👉 Group H betting tip Real Madrid are just 1/6 to win Group H. A better value bet looks to be the even money available with Betfred on Al Hilal to qualify for the Round of 16. 🏟️ Group H fixtures: 📺 Group H must-see match Although it will be interesting to see how Real Madrid lines up under new head coach Xabi Alonso, the standout match has to be the second-place decider between Al Hilal and FC Salzburg. Predictions for Round of 16 With the top two teams from each group advancing, the Round of 16 is set to deliver thrilling knockout action. Based on our group predictions, we expect European and South American giants to dominate, with Al Hilal the only team from outside the two football-powerhouse continents to progress. Here's how the Round of 16 is likely to shape up, along with our predicted winners: Round of 16 fixtures Winner SE Palmeiras vs Atlético de Madrid Atlético de Madrid FC Bayern München vs CR Flamengo FC Bayern München Inter Milan vs Borussia Dortmund Inter Milan Manchester City vs Al Hilal Man City Paris Saint-Germain vs Porto Paris Saint-Germain Chelsea vs Boca Juniors Boca Juniors Fluminense FC vs River Plate River Plate Real Madrid vs Juventus Round of 16 betting tip Real Madrid to beat Juventus - The tie of the Round of 16 looks set to be between the winners of Group H, likely to be Real Madrid, against the runners up of Group G, likely to be one of Manchester City or Juventus. At the moment we are favouring Man City to win the group, meaning Los Blancos would face Juventus of Italy. In the knockout stages of such a prestigious competition, we will have to go for Real Madrid to get the win. Predictions for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals As we enter the quarter-finals, the elite clubs begin to clash. Expect tense tactical duels and world-class performances. European powerhouses like Bayern and Real Madrid look set to dominate this phase, though upsets are still possible with single-match knockouts. Predictions for quarter-finals Winner Atlético de Madrid vs FC Bayern München FC Bayern München Inter Milan vs Man City Man City Paris Saint-Germain vs Boca Juniors Paris Saint-Germain River Plate vs Real Madrid Real Madrid Quarter-Final betting tip Bayern Munich to beat Atlético de Madrid - The Spaniards are notoriously hard to beat, but we would expect Bayern to come out on top if the two teams clash in the quarter-finals. Predictions for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-finals We expect four European heavyweights to make it to the final four. If all goes to plan, Bayern Munich will meet Manchester City, and Champions League winners PSG will clash with the 2024 champions, Real Madrid, in what would probably be the most highly anticipated match of the competition. Semi-Final betting tip Real Madrid to beat Paris Saint-Germain - As good as PSG have been in recent weeks, we can see a showdown with Los Blancos being a bridge too far for the European champions. The Parisians would have likely swept Madrid aside in the latter stages of the Champions League. But, by this stage of their season, we can see Luis Enrique's team finally running out of gas against a fresher Madrid. 🏆 Who will be the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 finalists? It would be fitting for the first expanded edition of the FIFA Club World Cup to be contested by two of the most famous club names in world football. Fans of South American football might dispute this, but a Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid showdown would be a final to grace any competition. 👉 Final betting tip Real Madrid to beat Bayern Munich - If the final is to be between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, an Englishman will get his hands on the trophy. We feel it will be Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold who will be in the winning team, as Madrid just have more big-game experience in finals. Q&A for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 The expanded format of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is creating plenty of buzz. Given the new format, there are plenty of questions that punters and fans want answered. Here are the most common ahead of this historic event: 1. Who is hosting the FIFA Club World Cup 2025? The United States is hosting the 2025 Club World Cup. This marks the first time the tournament will be held on American soil, serving as a key test event ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA. 2. When will the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 be played? The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025. It spans four weeks, featuring 32 clubs from six confederations in a World Cup-style format. 3. Which venues will host the FIFA Club World Cup 2025? Matches will be played across 12 venues, they are the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Audi Field in Washington, Lumen Field in Seattle, the Rose Bowl in California, TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Geodis Park in Nashville, Camping World Stadium and Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando and the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. 4. How many teams take part in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025? A total of 32 teams will participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. This is a major expansion from previous editions and follows the same structure as the FIFA World Cup, with eight groups of four. 5. How did teams qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup? Teams qualified by winning or placing highly in their continental competitions between 2021 and 2024. This includes UEFA Champions League winners, Copa Libertadores champions, and top-performing clubs from AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, and OFC. 6. Why are Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal not in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup? FIFA rules state that only two teams from any country can qualify, and the qualifying period for the 2025 Club World Cup was between 2021 and 2024. As Chelsea and Manchester City won the Champions League in that period, they were awarded the two English places ahead of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal. 7. Which team is the favourite to win the 2025 Club World Cup? Real Madrid are the betting favourites to win the 2025 Club World Cup. Despite their poor 2024/25 season, Los Blancos have competition winning pedigree and will be keen to make history by winning the first edition of the competition in its newly expanded format. About the author Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Nothing will change – Cristiano Ronaldo intends to remain at Al Nassr
There had been speculation – fuelled by FIFA president Gianni Infantino – the five-time Ballon d'Or winner could join a club competing in this summer's Club World Cup on a short-term deal. The 40-year-old had also hinted his future could lie elsewhere when he posted a message on social media at the end of Al Nassr's season that read: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' But speaking after Portugal's triumph over Spain in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday – in which Ronaldo scored his 138th international goal – the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star said he would not be moving on. 'Future? Nothing will change. Al Nassr? Yes,' the forward told reporters. Ronaldo joined the Saudi Pro League side in December 2022 after a second spell at United ended in controversy following an interview in which he criticised the Premier League club. His contract in Riyadh was due to expire this summer, prompting speculation linking him with Brazilian club Botafogo, who are involved in the Club World Cup. Infantino added credence to the reports by saying 'Ronaldo might play for one of the teams' featuring at the tournament in the United States and that 'there are discussions with some clubs'. This comes after Infantino and governing body FIFA were criticised over the manner in which they handed a host nation spot at the event to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami without them winning Major League Soccer.
