Morocco: Wydad Casablanca president president confirms Cristiano Ronaldo inquiry but dismisses transfer talks

Wydad Casablanca president Hicham Ait-Menna has confirmed that the club made an informal approach regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s availability for the FIFA Club World Cup, but insists that no serious negotiations ever took place.

In recent weeks, speculation linking the Portuguese star with the Moroccan side sparked considerable intrigue.

Amid the growing buzz, Ait-Menna publicly addressed the matter, offering a candid account of what truly transpired between the club and the Ronaldo camp.

“Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t have come for the money because he doesn’t need it,” Ait-Menna said, speaking during a media appearance.

He explained that although the club was intrigued by the possibility of signing one of football’s most iconic figures, their contact with Ronaldo’s circle was limited and exploratory in nature.

“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,’” the Wydad president revealed, suggesting the idea never advanced beyond an initial inquiry.

The rumour mill had gone into overdrive with talk of Ronaldo potentially joining the Casablanca giants for the Club World Cup.

But Ait-Menna was quick to bring expectations back down to earth, making it clear that the move was never financially realistic for the club.

“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,” he admitted during his appearance on After Afrique.

While the Ronaldo story has now been put to rest, Wydad Casablanca are turning their attention to more pressing matters—namely, their upcoming fixtures at the 2025 Club World Cup.

The Moroccan side has been drawn into a challenging Group G, where they will open their campaign against reigning European champions Manchester City on 18 June.

Matches against Italian giants Juventus on 22 June and UAE’s Al-Ain on 26 June will follow.

Despite the absence of Ronaldo, Wydad remain one of Africa’s most storied clubs and carry with them the hopes of their supporters on the global stage.

With high-profile opposition awaiting, Hicham Ait-Menna and his squad will be focused firmly on preparation—not rumours.