Latest news with #GianniInfantino
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
PSG vs Inter Milan UCL final LIVE pics: Match kicks-off, Champions League 2024-25 gallery
Linkin Park perform inside the stadium before the match. Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, shares a joke with Thomas Bach, former IOC President, in the stand prior to the UEFA Champions League Final. Paris St Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma during the warm up before the match. Paris St Germain's Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi and Desire Doue during the warm up before the match. PSG fans cheer ahead of the Champions League final. Fans of FC Internazionale show their support in the stands prior to the UEFA Champions League Final. 1 / 6 Linkin Park perform inside the stadium before the match. Photo: REUTERS
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
Cristiano Ronaldo's future is unclear. Could he join one of the teams at the Club World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Al Nassr is up in the air after a disappointing season, and his contract is set to expire at the end of next month. The 40-year-old also posted a cryptic message on his social media earlier this week, writing: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written.' With Al Nassr not involved in the tournament, there have long been suggestions that Ronaldo could compete at FIFA's inaugural expanded Club World Cup, which takes place in the United States this summer. And the body's president Gianni Infantino added fuel to the fire during an interview with YouTuber IShowSpeed last weekend. Advertisement Discussing Lionel Messi competing in the event with his MLS club Inter Miami, Infantino then added: 'And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup. 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.' A special transfer window opens for teams competing in the Club World Cup between June 1 and June 10, with sides able to add players before its opening game on June 14. So, could a team move to sign Ronaldo between now and then? Are any of them interested? Is there a chance he could face eternal rival Messi, surely for the final time in their careers, at this tournament? The Athletic's team of reporters approached figures at clubs competing at the Club World Cup to ask whether they would be interested in a move for Ronaldo. Unless otherwise noted, those people spoke under the condition of anonymity to protect relationships. Their responses are below. Chelsea turned down the opportunity to sign Ronaldo in 2022, and are not going to change their minds three years later. The London club have already compiled a list of players they want to play up front for them in the future, including Hugo Ekitike, Liam Delap — who Chelsea have reached a transfer agreement for — and Benjamin Sesko. Like most of the Chelsea squad, these are players all under the age of 25 and have the best of their careers still to come. Their wage demands also fit into the general structure in place at Stamford Bridge. Ronaldo, while respected for all his achievements, simply does not fit into the club's recruitment strategy. Simon Johnson No chance. Juventus are still in arbitration with Ronaldo over an agreement that was made to defer some of his wages while he was with the Turin club during the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) ordered Juventus to pay more than €9.7million ($10.35m, £8.3m), plus interest, to Ronaldo in back wages. James Horncastle As exciting as it could be, a Messi vs Ronaldo clash in the opening match of the 2025 Club World Cup is unlikely to happen. Ronaldo joining Al Ahly, the Egyptian side who kick the tournament off against Messi's Inter Miami in that Florida city in two weeks' time, is a transfer that's only possible in video games. Financially, the move just isn't logical due to his salary requirements. Ahmed Walid Mamelodi Sundowns are South Africa's richest team, backed by one of the country's wealthiest men, Patrice Motsepe, who has been in charge since 2003. Since Motsepe became president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2021, his son, Thlopie, has taken over as club chairman, running Sundowns on a day-to-day basis. Advertisement Thlopie confirmed last week that they are considering using the forthcoming transfer window but any new faces are only likely to arrive once their involvement in the Club World Cup is over. That responsibility will fall on Flemming Berg, the club's Danish sporting director, and his assistant, Ryan Hunt. Simon Hughes Palmeiras have not made any move, nor do they plan to do so, to sign Ronaldo. That has been the club's position since mid-May, when the first rumours surfaced that a team from Brazil was interested in the Portuguese forward. They also added they did not envision any Brazilian club being able to afford such a move. The doubts about whether Ronaldo will stay in Saudi Arabia or not, with his current contract about to expire, have not changed the scenario at the Sao Paulo club. Their attacking options will be young Estevao, a right-winger who will join Chelsea after this tournament; the Argentine Jose Manuel Lopez; or Vitor Roque, who failed to meet expectations at Spanish sides Barcelona and Real Betis over the past two seasons and did not score in his first nine games with Palmeiras after joining in February. Mario Cortegana Even as their Brazilian rivals have made a habit of making splashy signings from European football over the past decade, Fluminense have generally been more circumspect. This is in large part due to their financial situation: compared to the country's big hitters — Palmeiras, Flamengo, Corinthians — they have a pretty modest budget and prefer to cut their cloth accordingly. It was no surprise, then, that a source at the club immediately rejected the idea that Rio de Janeiro-based Fluminense could offer Ronaldo a new challenge. Jack Lang Another Brazilian side who have no interest in, and have had no discussions over, signing Ronaldo. Although the club's owner, John Textor, attended Al Nassr training sessions due to his relationship with their chief executive Majed AlJamaan, any suggestion that he might join the Rio side or that he would be involved in the Eagle Football multi-club vehicle where Textor is chairman have been described to The Athletic as 'a bizarre fantasy story'. Matt Woosnam Flamengo have also ruled out a move for Ronaldo ahead of the Club World Cup, mainly for financial reasons. Jorginho's arrival from Arsenal is their latest planned move for the tournament. Jose Boto, Flamengo's sporting director, is Portuguese and has very good contacts in his home country, which could potentially facilitate the deal at some point. However, it is not something Rio-based Flamengo have seriously considered. Mario Cortegana Inter's American ownership, the asset management firm Oaktree, has provided stability and financial security for this weekend's Champions League finalists. They are also committed to rejuvenating a squad that is the oldest in this season's Champions League. 'Investments will be made in slightly younger profiles who represent a real asset, players with potential who are an asset for the present and the future,' Inter's CEO Giuseppe Marotta explained to The Athletic this week. That doesn't sound like Ronaldo, who turned 40 in February. Advertisement Marotta was at Juventus when Ronaldo joined them in 2018, but that was a signing driven by colleague Fabio Paratici. Marotta left the club a few months later, and Inter have since replaced Juventus as the real force in Italian football. The prospect of Marotta signing Ronaldo for Inter — regardless of the new ownership's strategy for the Milanese club — is unlikely. James Horncastle Ronaldo and City manager Pep Guardiola nearly joined forces in 2021 before he decided to return to neighbours United from Juventus at the eleventh hour. A deal was broadly agreed then, but long phone conversations with former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-Old Trafford team-mate Rio Ferdinand convinced Ronaldo how ruinous switching to the other side of Manchester would be for his legacy. At the time, City were also looking at Harry Kane to fill the centre-forward void left by the departure during the same window of Sergio Aguero. There is no such vacancy now that they have Erling Haaland, who has committed himself to the club for the next decade. City also added Omar Marmoush to their attacking ranks in January and are attempting to bring down the average age of the squad. Ronaldo is into his fifth decade, his powers are understandably waning, and he is unlikely to be able to play on one of the wings anymore. That said, the way Guardiola has incorporated Haaland into his team by allowing him not to get involved in any build-up play is a dilution of his football idealism that was not known four years ago. It would have been fun to see Guardiola work with Ronaldo, having played such an important role in Messi's first few years at Barcelona, but the chances of it happening are virtually zero. Jordan Campbell Since his departure from Madrid to join Juventus, Ronaldo has explored the possibility of moving back to the Bernabeu on several occasions. The last opportunity was two years ago, when he was on his way out of United. According to senior sources at Madrid, his agent at the time, Jorge Mendes, offered him to them several times during the summer of 2023, with very advantageous financial conditions. Advertisement The club's stance has always been clear in these situations, as it was during this season when the possibility of Sergio Ramos returning also came up: they have total gratitude for both players' time at the club, but they believe it should be left in the past. Madrid are committed to their project, which is now focused on new blood, without focusing on the economic elements. Mario Cortegana and Guillermo Rai There is zero chance. Bayern's forward line will be led by Kane this summer in the States, and Ronaldo would offer nothing beyond unhelpful media attention. The German champions are paying no attention to his availability at all. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor The French club have not made any moves in terms of Ronaldo, and has no plans to do so. Their total focus is on the Champions League final showdown with Inter on Saturday night, which also shows why bringing him in is not among their plans. Their overall project as a club has pivoted since manager Luis Enrique's 2024 arrival to build a team based on their Spanish coach and young talent, moving away from the collection of the world's most famous stars previously in the line-up. The success of this season reinforces this idea and has led to renewing the contracts in recent months of the aforementioned Luis Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos, who is always in close contact with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. Mario Cortegana In Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund believe they have one of the in-form forwards in European football and they will head to the U.S. fully confident in their ability to score plenty of goals in this tournament. There's no conversation to be had about signing Ronaldo. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor Ronaldo will not be joining Atletico for the Club World Cup. The Spanish club are taking the tournament very seriously, and coach Diego Simeone's team will be playing their usual high-intensity, hard-working style, and have top internationals such as Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth and Antoine Griezmann to lead their attack. Advertisement Adding the 40-year-old former Madrid player for their U.S. challenge would just not make sense. Dermot Corrigan Porto have no interest in signing Ronaldo, who came through the academy at one of their great domestic rivals, Lisbon's Sporting CP. They are, however, focusing their efforts on another (far younger) forward from the Saudi Pro League: Gabri Veiga. The 23-year-old made a surprise move from Celta Vigo to Al Ahli two years ago and is a key target for them this summer. James Horncastle Ronaldo supported Benfica as a young boy, but it would be a colossal surprise if they were to approach him now. He came through the youth ranks at their local Lisbon rivals, Sporting, and it would need a huge amount of PR massaging to make a cross-city move look like anything other than a betrayal, even at this late stage of his career. He also once stuck a middle finger up at Benfica fans while playing for United, so the appetite from their supporters for his signing might also be limited. Jack Lang In recent seasons, the Mexicans have been known for signing La Liga stars such as Sergio Canales and especially Sergio Ramos. For that reason, it might seem logical that they would be looking to do the same with Ronaldo. However, very senior sources at Monterrey played down this option ahead of the Club World Cup: 'We haven't moved on anything at all. But there is so much noise that, if he wants to come and he comes for free, then we will think about it.' Guillermo Rai A source close to Ronaldo told The Athletic last week that it would not make sense for Al Nassr to renew his contract and then move him out on loan to a team playing in the Club World Cup. That said, a renewal is not out of the question. However, a source at the Riyadh club suggested it depended in part on the outcome of their season — and this came to a negative end, with Al Nassr finishing third in the Saudi Pro League, having lost in the Asian Champions League's semi-finals. Guillermo Rai
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Champions League final the calm before storm as Uefa and Fifa battle rolls on
In regal Odeonsplatz, the finishing touches are being applied to a fan zone that will accommodate Inter's travelling fans under an azure sky. It will surely be full to capacity given about 40,000 Nerazzurri are expected to arrive in time for Saturday's Champions League final, even if under half that number will officially make it into Allianz Arena for the match itself. This is not only an appointment with history for their opponents, Paris Saint-Germain; Inter have blended silk with street-fighting qualities to stand on the verge of their first European title since 2010. Gianni Infantino is unlikely to be among the melee but the Fifa president's sympathies are well documented. He will be quietly rooting for Inter from the VIP seats and perhaps it will be an opportune moment for some bridge building. There is a constituency of Inter fans in Uefa's higher echelons, after all, and football's biggest governing bodies could certainly do with discovering a few acres of common ground. Surface temperatures have, at least, cooled since a number of European delegates at the Fifa congress walked out this month in protest at Infantino's prioritising of meetings in the Middle East. A conciliatory public statement from Uefa saw to that, although nobody should assume all is forgiven behind the scenes. There is little love lost between their respective leaderships and the summer ahead is only likely to intensify the power struggle for the future of the elite game. It means that, from Uefa's perspective, there is every incentive to pull off a bravura spectacle on Saturday night. The revamped Club World Cup, Infantino's deeply controversial pet project, begins in a fortnight and a statement of who runs the biggest show in town would be timely. Inter and PSG could face each other again in that competition's final; they are on opposite sides of the draw and it is hardly an impossible scenario if enough can be wrung from their overstretched players. But a show for the ages in Munich would be a hard act to follow, and demonstrate that the traditional gongs, albeit in their heavily updated form, still hold the greatest weight. Greeting visitors to the coffee lounge at Hotel Bayerischer Hof, handed over to Uefa and their wide-ranging entourage for the weekend, are mannequins clothed in replica shirts bearing the names of Lautaro Martínez and Marquinhos. Perhaps that inadvertently speaks of an obvious inconvenience in this final's grapple for eyeballs: the lack of a global superstar to reel in casual enthusiasts. That should not spoil the game itself, which will be finely poised between a free-flowing PSG and an Inter side that can deliver knockout blows at a stroke. It is hard to escape the thought, though, that the commercial brains in Nyon would have deemed Lamine Yamal's presence more future-facing. How much the presence of Linkin Park at the now obligatory pre-match show will enthral younger fans is a different question, albeit not an altogether separate matter. The influential European Club Association (ECA) chair Nasser al-Khelaifi, who also happens to run PSG, has never been shy to say he wants these occasions to rival a Super Bowl in tone and glamour. Given the ECA's ever-growing power, it would not hurt Uefa to deliver one. Fifa will certainly try to do that when the Club World Cup concludes in New Jersey on 13 July. Khelaifi sits astride football's sparring factions, with sources describing him as modern football's kingmaker. The ECA leadership have fully backed Infantino's tournament, to the extent that a handful of staff are working full time on preparations for the event. But their recent joint commercial venture with Uefa, UC3, promises to supercharge the Champions League's presence and influence across the Atlantic. Which competition will ultimately produce the kind of jamboree Khelaifi envisages? Uefa is satisfied, at least, that this season's reformatted Champions League has proved successful. Insiders have sung the praises of its 36-team 'league phase' to the point of evangelism, even if its debut edition did not ultimately deliver the level of tension and jeopardy that had been threatened. This weekend is seen an opportune moment to discuss feedback given by participating clubs. Small tweaks may follow, but there will be no fundamental changes to the structure. One alteration that may come closer to fruition in Munich would see the clubs that finished higher in the league phase given the perceived advantage of a home second leg in the knockout stage in an attempt to incentivise performance in that sprawling first round. Next season a six-strong English contingent will knock the Champions League's remaining credibility as a truly representative European tournament, even if it offers an accurate snapshot of the Premier League's overwhelming strength. Nineteen of the 36 league phase competitors will come from England, Germany, Spain or Italy; a Super League is effectively here by stealth, but few of the gathered stakeholders in Bavaria feel moved to obsess over a lack of diversity. Instead they will savour a radiant weekend in a city that certainly offers a sufficiently highbrow stage. In Königsplatz, PSG's supporters will gather in their own specially designated area. The location, a stone's throw from Odeonsplatz, may keep security personnel on their toes. Passing through the Bayerischer Hof lobby, Khelaifi laughed off any suggestion nerves may consume him on Saturday. The final looks too close to call. Maybe Infantino, along with a number of his peers from Uefa, will depart with the glow of a champion, but the powerbrokers' grievances are unlikely to melt entirely in the Bavarian sun.
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
FIFA ‘far away' from a deal with league unions over football calendar, says PL board member
FIFA is still 'far away' from resolving the row with Europe's domestic leagues and global players' union FIFPro over the international match calendar, according to the Premier League's director of international football relations Mathieu Moreuil. Last October, European Leagues, the body that represents leagues in 30 countries across the continent, teamed up with FIFPro to file a formal complaint against world football's governing body at the European Commission. Advertisement The dispute over who controls football's congested calendar has been simmering for years but FIFA's critics believe its decisions to expand the World Cup to 48 teams and create a new 32-team Club World Cup are an abuse of a dominant market position, which is contrary to European Union competition law. At the heart of the dispute is the claim that FIFA has failed to consult the rest of the game on the impact of these changes, with the unions concerned about a spike in injuries and player-burnout, while the leagues are worried about the detrimental effect of too much football on their competitions. Speaking to journalists in Munich on Thursday, Moreuil said European Leagues and FIFPro made their complaint because FIFA was not listening to them, something that has started to change. 'We've had meetings, at least, and FIFA is now engaging with us,' said Moreuil, who is also European Leagues' vice-president. 'Both organisations have had meetings with the FIFA president (Gianni Infantino), which is good, but we're still far away from an agreement, therefore we'll keep our legal action in the system. 'FIFA needs to have a discussion with all the stakeholders about a calendar that works. It's not going to be easy but that's what we do. 'When we look at (European football's governing body) UEFA, we can have a discussion on these issues. It's not perfect but at least the points we are making are taken into account. That's the relationship we want with FIFA and we're far from that at the moment. But hopefully things can improve.' FIFA's international match calendar is an agreement with the game's six continental confederations, the European Club Association and FIFPro that sets out when international games can be played, including all the major tournaments. The current calendar runs from this summer until the end of 2030 and, as FIFA insists that international football takes priority over domestic games, national competitions must fit into FIFA's schedule. Advertisement The revamped Club World Cup, which starts in Miami on June 14, does not have a ring-fenced space on the calendar but FIFA is still demanding that the 32 participating clubs field their strongest squads and has created a bespoke transfer window to allow them to bring in new players between 1-10 June. And with the tournament not finishing until 13 July, teams that go deep in the tournament will only have five weeks off before their domestic seasons start again in mid-August. Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, was also in Munich ahead of Saturday's Champions League final and the English players' union boss told reporters that his members have been very clear about the consequences of fixture congestion. 'The players have spoken up,' he said. '(Manchester City's) Rodri, the Ballon d'Or, said it was too much, and many others. So now it's very tangible. It's not a theory. 'We are in situation where players are being put at risk of injury, physically and mentally. 'That's why we need to come together and work on solutions, otherwise people will get injured or they'll make choices to protect themselves. That's where it becomes a problem for the whole industry, because we want to see the best players on the pitch.' Molango added that the players' unions are pushing for a mandatory two-week break for players in the off-season and a day off every week during the season. FIFA has not responded to a request for comment.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr exit takes a twist as club chief issues defiant statement - despite 39-year-old snubbing new £167m-per-year offer
Cristiano Ronaldo 's proposed departure from Al-Nassr is uncertain after the club issued a defiant statement. Ronaldo's contract with the Saudi Arabian club is set to come to an end on June 30. The 39-year-old had been close to agreeing a new deal worth £167million-per-year. However, he declared on social media on Monday that 'This chapter is over' as he hinted at a departure from Al-Nassr. Ronaldo has since been linked to various teams, including his former club Sporting, while there have been suggestions that he could head to the MLS, Brazil, Turkey or another Saudi Arabian club. Al-Nassr, however, are determined to ensure that the Portugal international doesn't depart. Speaking in a press conference, Al-Nassr sporting director Fernando Hierro expressed his belief that Ronaldo will remain at the club. Hierro said: 'I have to be positive. I don't think Ronaldo will leave Al-Nassr. 'In any case, we are working hard on all aspects. 'Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr runs until the end of June 30. 'We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him. 'He is a huge phenomenon in the history of football and has helped the league grow. 'We are in contact to renew his contract and hope he continues with us.' FIFA president Gianni Infantino suggested last week that Ronaldo could feature in the newly-revamped Club World Cup. 'Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup,' Infantino said. 'There are discussions.' '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.' During his time at Al-Nassr Ronaldo has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances. He won the Arab Champions Cup in 2023 but is frustrated at not having won the Saudi Pro League or the King's Cup.
