Latest news with #WydadCasablanca
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Al Nassr keen to secure Cristiano Ronaldo's future amid interest from other clubs
Al Nassr are in negotiations with Cristiano Ronaldo over a new deal but face stiff competition from suitors across the globe, according to the club's sporting director Fernando Hierro. Ronaldo, 40, has been the face of Saudi Arabian football since arriving in Riyadh in January 2023, but speculation over his future has intensified after his cryptic social media message following Al Nassr's final match of the season against Al Fateh. 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written,' the five-time Ballon d'Or winner wrote, fuelling rumours he could move on. 'Ronaldo's contract runs until June 30. We're working to renew it so he can continue with us,' Hierro told reporters. 'But of course, there are many clubs interested in signing him.' Ronaldo topped the goal charts in the Saudi Pro League for a second successive season and, despite Al Nassr missing out on Club World Cup qualification, his presence continues to elevate the profile of Saudi football. 'Cristiano's arrival was not just a signing – it was a national project,' Hierro said. 'He opened up the Saudi league to the world. It's phenomenal he had the courage to come, to stay, and to help us grow.' Fifa President Gianni Infantino recently hinted that Ronaldo could yet feature in the 32-team Club World Cup in the US this summer, with the global body even creating a special transfer window for the tournament. While Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a surprise move for the Portuguese legend, sources close to the club denied any formal talks. Whether Ronaldo's story in Saudi Arabia continues remains to be seen – but Al Nassr are determined to ensure this chapter doesn't close just yet.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Al-Nassr working on renewing Ronaldo deal, says club chief
RIYADH, May 30 (Reuters) - Al-Nassr are negotiating with Cristiano Ronaldo over a contract extension but face competition from a host of clubs eager to sign the five-times Ballon d'Or winner, the Saudi side's sporting director Fernando Hierro said on Thursday. Speculation over the 40-year-old Portuguese forward's future intensified after Al-Nassr's season-ending match at Al-Fateh on Monday, with Ronaldo posting on social media: "This chapter is over. The story? Still being written." "Ronaldo's contract with Al-Nassr runs until June 30. We will work to renew his contract so he can continue with us, and there are many clubs interested in signing him," Hierro told a news conference. Despite Al-Nassr failing to qualify for the Club World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week that discussions were underway about Ronaldo playing in the June 14-July 13 tournament in the United States. FIFA has created a special transfer window for clubs to sign players for the event, and while Wydad Casablanca had been linked with a move for Ronaldo a source close to the Moroccan side told Reuters last week they were not in talks to sign him. Ronaldo finished as the top scorer in back-to-back Saudi Pro League seasons and Hierro described him as a trailblazer for Saudi soccer. "Ronaldo's presence from the beginning is a national project," Hierro said. "Cristiano has opened up soccer in this country to the world. It's phenomenal that he had the courage to come here, stay here, and open up the Saudi Arabian league to the world."
CAF
4 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
CAF and Morocco LOC announce Match Venues for much-anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024
The Confédération Africaine de Football's ('CAF') together with hosts, Morocco Local Organizing Committee have announced the match venues that will host TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations ('WAFCON'), Morocco 2024 from 05-26 July, 2025. Six venues will be used for the Competition – the first time more than three venues are used for the event. The venues are: Olympic Stadium (Rabat) Larbi Zaouli Stadium (Casablanca) Père Jégo Stadium (Casablanca) El Bachir Stadium (Mohammédia) Honor Stadium (Oujda) Berkane Stadium (Berkane) The Match Venues: The brand new Olympic Stadium in Rabat was constructed to host 21,000 fans and is a state-of-the-art venue near the historic Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. It will be one of the host stadiums for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 that kicks-off in December. The Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca is currently the temporary home of Raja and Wydad Casablanca while their Mohammed V Stadium is being renovated ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025. It had its own renovations in 2019 and recently played host to matches at the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations. The 10,000-seater Père Jégo Stadium, also in Casablanca, is named after former Morocco manager Père Jégo, who is considered one of the finest football tacticians in the country's history. He managed both Raja and Wydad Casablanca, as well as the Morocco national team. The El Bachir Stadium in Mohammédia was built in 1954 but renovated in 2019 and is home to local side SCC Mohammédia. The stadium hosted matches at the recent TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations, including the final. The Honor Stadium is Oujda has a capacity of 35,000 and has played host to several international matches of late, involving the Morocco national team or as a home venue for other nations to complete their international fixtures. Finally, the Berkane Stadium is the home venue of RS Berkane and has a capacity of 12,000. It received renovations in 2017 and has hosted both international fixtures and matches in CAF's Interclub competitions. As seen across all CAF competitions over the last four years, the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON, Morocco 2024 is expected to build on the record-breaking success of its previous editions, with expectations to surpass past figures in stadium attendance, global broadcast viewership and engagement across digital platforms. In addition to the live coverage, fans are encouraged to engage with the exclusive behind the scenes content across CAF's digital platforms, using #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024. TOTALENERGIES WAFCON, MOROCCO 2024 GROUPS GROUP A: Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, DR Congo GROUP B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana GROUP C: South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania For more on the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON, Morocco 2024, visit -ENDS- Further Inquiries: communications@ CAF | Communication Department
CNN
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
‘This chapter is over': Cristiano Ronaldo posts cryptic message about his future as he retains Saudi top-scorer award
Cristiano Ronaldo threw his future into doubt with a cryptic message on social media after another goalscoring outing. The Portuguese star bagged a goal as Al Nassr lost 3-2 to Al Fateh on the final day of the Saudi Pro League season on Monday. Ronaldo's Al Nassr ended the campaign in third, 13 points off champions Al Ittihad, booking its spot in next season's AFC Champions League. It was Ronaldo's 25th league goal of the season, meaning he retains his top-scorer crown from last season. However, the 40-year-old raised questions about where he will be plying his trade next season with a cryptic social media post after the match. 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Thanks to all,' Ronaldo wrote with a picture of him in his Al Nassr kit. Since joining Al Nassr in 2022, Ronaldo has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances, per Transfermarkt. His contract is set to expire at the end of this season leaving him free to sign with any club he chooses. Spanish outlet Marca reported last week that an unnamed Brazilian club had made an offer to Ronaldo to allow him to participate in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, which is being held in the US this summer. Botafogo, Fluminense, Flamengo and Palmeiras are the teams from Brazil participating in the tournament. Last week, Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca denied rumors that it was also hoping to sign Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, a source told Reuters. 'It was just a friendly talk between Wydad's president and an agent close to Ronaldo, without going beyond informal discussions,' a source told Reuters.
CNN
4 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
‘This chapter is over': Cristiano Ronaldo posts cryptic message about his future as he retains Saudi top-scorer award
Cristiano Ronaldo threw his future into doubt with a cryptic message on social media after another goalscoring outing. The Portuguese star bagged a goal as Al Nassr lost 3-2 to Al Fateh on the final day of the Saudi Pro League season on Monday. Ronaldo's Al Nassr ended the campaign in third, 13 points off champions Al Ittihad, booking its spot in next season's AFC Champions League. It was Ronaldo's 25th league goal of the season, meaning he retains his top-scorer crown from last season. However, the 40-year-old raised questions about where he will be plying his trade next season with a cryptic social media post after the match. 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Thanks to all,' Ronaldo wrote with a picture of him in his Al Nassr kit. Since joining Al Nassr in 2022, Ronaldo has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances, per Transfermarkt. His contract is set to expire at the end of this season leaving him free to sign with any club he chooses. Spanish outlet Marca reported last week that an unnamed Brazilian club had made an offer to Ronaldo to allow him to participate in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, which is being held in the US this summer. Botafogo, Fluminense, Flamengo and Palmeiras are the teams from Brazil participating in the tournament. Last week, Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca denied rumors that it was also hoping to sign Ronaldo for the Club World Cup, a source told Reuters. 'It was just a friendly talk between Wydad's president and an agent close to Ronaldo, without going beyond informal discussions,' a source told Reuters.
