Wydad AC confirm Cristiano Ronaldo contact

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Jun 13, 2025. 13:00

Wydad Athletic Club have confirmed that they inquired about the availability of Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 40-year-old forward, who is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all-time, was rumoured to be on the radar of the Moroccan football heavyweights.

Wydad are set to compete in the upcoming 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA and they reinforced their squad during the recent transfer window, which saw them being linked with Ronaldo.

“Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t have come for the money because he doesn’t need it,” Wydad president Hicham Ait-Menna said in a press conference.

“It’s true that I contacted one of his agent friends three and a half or four months ago, saying, ‘Wouldn’t he want to play in the Club World Cup?’ He replied, ‘Listen, I don’t think so.

“There were never any real negotiations for this player. We would have liked to have him, but financially we wouldn’t have been able to pay the price he’s worth.”

Ronaldo, who recently inspired Portugal to the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League title, is expected to renew his contract with Saudi giants Al Nassr, as the current deal is set to expire at the end of this month.

Wydad are scheduled to face English giants Manchester City (June 18), Italian football powerhouse Juventus FC (June 22) and UAE side Al Ain (June 26) in the Club World Cup Group G.