Saudi officials working to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Pro League
Saudi officials are in "difficult" talks to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the country, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Thursday, after the star player suggested he was leaving Al Nassr.
The Portuguese superstar, whose arrival in 2023 heralded a rush of late-career players to the oil-rich country, could transfer to Al Hilal and feature in the upcoming Club World Club, the source said.
"There is an ongoing difficult negotiation to convince Ronaldo to stay and play" in the Saudi Pro League next season, said the source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi soccer.
"First option is a transfer to Al Hilal with an opportunity to feature in the FIFA Club World Cup or to Asia champion Al Ahli," the source added.
The oil-funded PIF, the sovereign wealth fund behind a number of big-ticket Saudi investments, controls a group of Pro League clubs including Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli.
Ronaldo posted "This chapter is over" hours after the Saudi Pro League wrapped up this week, with Al Nassr finishing third and without a trophy once again.
A special transfer window opens from June 1 to 10 to allow the 32 teams involved in the newly expanded Club World Cup to sign players.
Last week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said "there are discussions" over Ronaldo playing at the tournament in the United States from June 14.
Ronaldo, 40, joined Al Nassr in early 2023 from Manchester United, and his contract expires at the end of next month.
"Ronaldo's presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half," the PIF source said. "He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia."
Ronaldo's announcement comes just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18-month stay in Saudi Arabia in January, after playing just seven times for Al Hilal — on a reported salary of around $104 million a year.
Although Ronaldo was the Pro League's top scorer with 25 goals, he has been unable to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, which lost in the Asian Champions League semifinals last month.
Last year, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said he could end his career with Al Nassr, the Riyadh team favored by a number of Saudi royals.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi will play at the Club World Cup with Inter Miami.
"And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup," Infantino said during a recent interview with YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed.
"There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup ... who knows, who knows."
Saudi Arabia has shaken up soccer by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo's move, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
40 minutes ago
- Japan Times
Nakatani urges closer defense tie-ups amid erosion of rules-based order
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani called Saturday for closer defense cooperation among like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region in order to strengthen the global rules-based order and — in an implicit criticism of China — act as a counter to countries seeking to erode the status quo. The Japanese defense chief used a speech before scores of his counterparts and military brass in Singapore at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's leading security conference, to push for closer cooperation and coordination, 'while ensuring openness, inclusiveness and transparency, with an aim of restoring a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening accountability and promoting the international public good.' Nakatani said the need to unite on defense cooperation was clear, pointing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine — a violation of the U.N. charter — and Beijing's moves in the disputed South China Sea, including its decision to openly ignore a 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruling that dismissed the country's claim to most of the strategic waterway. Without directly naming China, Nakatani had strong words for Beijing and the precedent it has attempted to set in the South China Sea and by quickly building up its military forces and dispatching them to flash points, such as in the waters and airspace near Taiwan and Japan. 'There is a serious disregard for accountability,' Nakatani said. 'In the South China Sea, the very country that previously declared it had no intention of militarizing the area is rapidly advancing militarization. Additionally, there has been a sharp increase in military buildup, including nuclear forces lacking transparency, and provocative military activities in the region. 'This poses a significant obstacle to maintaining trust in the defense arena,' he said. Pointing to rising numbers of state-sponsored cyberattacks as well as repeated attempts to damage undersea cables crucial for communications and economic livelihoods, Nakatani also appeared to direct his fire at Beijing, saying that "some countries that do not share common values and interests are willing to attack the foundations of our society and economy for their own interests." Chinese-backed hackers are said to have been behind a number of cyberattacks on Japan, the U.S. and others, while Chinese-flagged ships have damaged or cut undersea cables in the Baltic Sea and near Taiwan. In response to these moves, Tokyo has ramped up defense cooperation and coordination with scores of countries both in the region and further afield — and has pledged to do even more. Unveiling Japan's new OCEAN (One Cooperative Effort Among Nations) initiative during his speech, Nakatani said that even more like-minded nations could work together, 'taking a comprehensive view of the Indo-Pacific region as a whole.' 'Now is the time for countries to join hands under OCEAN, engage in dialogue, and work to restore, rather than dissolve, the rules-based international order; to realize, rather than ignore, accountability; and to promote, rather than undermine, the international public good,' he said. But Nakatani also echoed French President Emmanuel Macron, who a day earlier opened the conference with a speech focused on the need to maintain a degree of 'strategic autonomy' at a time when the United States and China have demanded that countries pick a side in their growing rivalry. While saying that the Japan-U.S. alliance 'will continue to be the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the region and the world,' Nakatani also appeared to hint at the need for Tokyo to carefully calibrate its relationships, including its ties with Washington. 'There is a healthy and growing caution against excessive dependence on a single country that does not share common values and interests,' Nakatani said. 'Maintaining an appropriate level of strategic autonomy is an important foundation for maintaining stable relations in the defense field.' These tacit remarks come as Japan grapples with how best to secure its interests in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's unpredictable approach to foreign policy. Japan has not been spared his wrath as Trump slapped both friends and foes alike with onerous tariffs while simultaneously calling long-standing alliances unfair, including Washington's security pact with Tokyo. The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who spoke during the same panel discussion as Nakatani, also doubled down on the need for deepened cooperation, reiterating former Prime Minster Fumio Kishida's mantra that 'Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow.' Pointing to alleged Chinese shipments of dual-use products to Russia for its war in Ukraine and the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers for the same conflict, Kallas said that the security of Europe 'is very much interlinked' with Asia, and that defense cooperation is crucial. 'If you think that you can just focus on one region because it doesn't concern you, then I think ... you are on the wrong track,' she said. 'We can only address these big global concerns if we act together,' she added. Nakatani, for his part, welcomed the involvement of European countries, as well as NATO, in the Indo-Pacific region, expressing his intention to beef up cooperation. But, asked following his speech how the OCEAN concept related to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's idea of an 'Asian NATO,' Nakatani was coy, reiterating only that it is continuing to be discussed within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
NHK
an hour ago
- NHK
Trump accuses China of 'violating' trade agreement with US
US President Donald Trump says China has "violated" a trade agreement with his nation. Trump posted on social media on Friday, "I made a FAST DEAL with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation." He said, "Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilized and China got back to business as usual." He added that everyone was happy and that was the good news. Trump then said there was bad news, adding, "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US." But the president did not specify how China violated the agreement. Trump was later asked about this post by reporters at the White House. He repeated that China had violated the agreement and expressed confidence that he will speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said, "Hopefully, we'll work that out." Trump's comments came after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News on Thursday that trade talks with China were "a bit stalled." The US and China agreed this month to cut additional tariffs on each other by 115 percentage points. Washington is calling for more market access and reducing the bilateral trade deficit. Trump is apparently dissatisfied with Beijing's response, and concerns are growing that the trade tensions could escalate again, depending on future negotiations.
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Japan Times
K-pop and breakdance power South Korea's high-stakes presidential race
In South Korea's high-stakes presidential campaign, K-pop isn't just a cultural backdrop — it's a political strategy. Both major parties are leaning on Korean pop hits to energize voters, blending choreography and catchy lyrics with political messaging. Among the favorites at campaign rallies: Kim Jong-kook's Lovable and Young Tak's Next Door Oppa, are now fixtures in events across the country. But unlike the last U.S. presidential election, where Kamala Harris secured endorsements from Beyonce and Taylor Swift, South Korean artists have shied away from direct campaigning, which risks alienating fans. The opposition Democratic Party has deployed a 48-member "Shouting Korea' team, which travels nationwide in mobile units designed to create festive, street-level rallies. Their goal is to produce crowd-friendly events using choreography and classic Korean pop songs before and after the party nominee Lee Jae-myung takes the stage. The conservative People Power Party has taken a similar approach, with candidate Kim Moon-soo's campaign team choosing retro hits like Lovable, over songs by current idols. "Kim's frequent use of heart gestures inspired us to highlight a 'lovable' image, playing on the song's message to enhance his public appeal,' Kim Dong-hwan, a PPP campaign official, said. South Koreans head to the polls Tuesday after six months of political turmoil, hoping a new leader can begin to heal a fractured nation. The snap vote comes after impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed by the Constitutional Court in April for his abrupt decision to declare martial law. Lee Jae-myung during an election campaign rally in Seoul on Thursday. | bloomberg The state of the economy and fighting U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are among the hot topics for voters, according to recent opinion surveys. Lee had 49% support while Kim trailed with 36% in a survey of 1,005 people commissioned by local media News 1 and released this week. "This election follows a period of martial law and impeachment,' said Kim Dae-young, a Democratic Party official. "There were debates about including strong political messages, but we decided instead to build a space where people could gather naturally — through music, dance, and video.' The campaign's setlist draws heavily on late-1990s and early-2000s pop acts chosen for their energy and broad appeal. They include Koyote's Pure Love, from 1999, diva Uhm Jung-hwa's Festival from the same year. Professional dancer Yim Young-hwan, who was hired by the liberal party to join the campaign, has choreographed several of the performances. The dance routines are deliberately simple, with occasional flourishes to grab attention, and to make it easy for people to follow. "We wanted people to say, 'Wow,' when they saw us,' Yim said. Lyrics are often adapted to highlight the candidate's character or policy goals. And choosing older tracks instead of licensing new idol music from the big K-pop companies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe reduces costs, according to Kim, the PPP campaign official. Licensing fees per song could reach around 3 million won ($2,170) to tens of million won, depending on its popularity. While TV and radio still play a role, Kim noted that digital content now dominates political engagement. Candidate Kim has appeared on major YouTube shows and launched a dedicated channel featuring a 13-song playlist to court online audiences. Yet despite the digital pivot, the energy of in-person street performances still resonates with many voters. "When young people perform like this, it lifts the older generation's spirits,' said Lee Soo-young, a Seoul resident, who joined Lee's campaign.
