President of Morocco giants, Wydad Casablanca Hicham Aït-Menna has confirmed preliminary contact regarding the acquisition of Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
Earlier report suggested the Moroccan outfit had contacted Ronaldo’s camp in an attempt to secure his services for the Club World Cup tournament.
However, the president of the club in an interview with RMC’s After Afrique revealed that preliminary contact had taken place regarding the 40-year-old Portuguese star, though a deal was never seriously on the cards.
“Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t have come for the money – he doesn’t need it,” said the Wydad president. “I don’t know how the rumour spread, but yes, I did reach out to one of his agent friends about three and a half or four months ago, asking: ‘Would he want to play the Club World Cup?’ He replied, ‘Listen, I don’t think so.’”
The tournament, which kicks off today (June 13) and runs until July 14, is the first expanded edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, with Wydad representing Morocco as one of the top clubs from the African continent.
Aït-Menna hinted that FIFA were keen to attract high-profile names from the Saudi Pro League, where Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr, to boost global interest in the tournament.
“I think FIFA were also interested in bringing players from Saudi Arabia to give this first edition more momentum.”
Wydad begin their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Manchester City, before facing Juventus and Al-Ain.
