Chinese Decision Halts Al-Ahly Negotiations with Cristiano Ronaldo

Iraqi News

3 days ago

Follow-up - INA
China's conditions regarding hosting the Saudi Super Cup have stalled Al-Ahly's negotiations with Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now free to negotiate with any club after his contract with Al-Nassr expires at the end of the 2025 season.
According to reports published by the Spanish newspaper Marca, Ronaldo expressed his desire to leave Al-Nassr after two and a half seasons during which he failed to win any official title with the team.
The newspaper indicated that "Al-Nassr's loss in the AFC Champions League, in addition to its failure to qualify for the continental tournament next season, played a major role in prompting the Portuguese star to decide to change his destination."
For his part, sports journalist Khaled Al-Zahrani revealed that Saudi officials had reservations about Ronaldo's move to Al-Ahly, due to the Chinese side's condition of his attendance at the Saudi Super Cup as a condition for agreeing to host it.
The tournament includes Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Qadisiyah, making Ronaldo's move to Al-Hilal more logical in light of these factors, especially since Al-Hilal is the player's preferred destination, while Al-Ahly is a second option. Despite these obstacles, Al-Zahrani confirmed that "Ronaldo remains keen to embark on a new experience in the Saudi League, preferring to move to Al-Hilal if a final agreement is reached."