Cristiano Ronaldo has rejected the chance to play for Brazilian giants Fluminense at the Club World Cup. FIFA president Gianni Infantino is desperate for the 40-year-old Portuguese superstar to pit himself against Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembele in the first expanded tournament that kicks off in the United States later this month.
There were stories last month that a Brazilian club had approached Ronaldo about joining them. Now Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt has confirmed that he contacted the striker's agent Jorge Mendes to offer Ronaldo a passport to the tournament - only to be told that Ronaldo isn't interested.
Bittencourt said as cited by Sports Central: "I have a relationship with Jorge. Not a very close one but, if I call him, he answers. "I asked him if there was any chance of Cristiano playing in the Club World Cup. He was very clear in telling me that he's not interested in playing in Brazil for now."
Former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus ace Ronaldo is currently engaged in negotiations about extending his bank-busting £3.2million-a-week contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. Messi will play for Inter Miami at the tournament after the MLS club were controversially given a place in the tournament because the USA is hosting the £1billion event.
Infantino wants Ronaldo to join his big rival in a bid to boost interest in a competition that has been widely criticised for adding to an already busy football calendar. The FIFA president told YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed: "Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup. There are discussions. "Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup, yeah. 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."
Manchester City and Chelsea have the chance to bank the £100m that will go to the winners. Rio-based Fluminense have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund, Korean club Ulsan and Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
Botafogo manager Renato Paiva was asked about the prospect of signing Ronaldo and replied: "Christmas is only in December. But if he came, you can't say no to a star like that. "I don't know anything - I'm just answering the question. But, as I said, coaches always want the best. Ronaldo, even at his age, is still a goal-scoring machine. In a team that creates chance after chance, he would be good."
