Ronaldo's Possible Loan Move To Al-Hilal Viewed As Counter-Intuitive By Esteve Calzada

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Al-Hilal's CEO, Esteve Calzada, expressed that a loan deal for Cristiano Ronaldo would have been illogical due to the rivalry with Al-Nassr. Ronaldo was linked with Al-Hilal after announcing his departure from Al-Nassr at the end of his contract. The 40-year-old scored 93 goals in 105 matches for Al-Nassr, and speculation grew when FIFA introduced an additional transfer window earlier this month.

Both Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. Calzada dismissed the possibility of signing Ronaldo, citing it as unrealistic since Ronaldo played for their main rival, Al-Nassr. "We normally don't comment on players' situations," Calzada told BBC Sport, noting that their name is often used in negotiations by players or agents seeking better deals.

Calzada highlighted the unusual nature of the current transfer window, which is brief due to the tournament's timing. He stressed that decisions made now could impact the club for years. "As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player... it's certainly completely counter-intuitive," he said about bringing a star from their biggest rival for just a few weeks.

Ahead of their Club World Cup match against Real Madrid at Hard Rock Stadium, Calzada mentioned that Al-Hilal had not signed new players before the competition. Former Inter boss Simone Inzaghi was appointed as head coach. Despite not making signings, Calzada stated they aim to strengthen the team during the traditional transfer window after the tournament.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes declined an offer from Al-Hilal to continue playing at a high level. Calzada commented on Fernandes' situation: "I cannot confirm nor deny that we've been interested in him." He acknowledged Fernandes fits their desired player profile but emphasized they are not deterred by potential rejections.

Targeting Top Talent

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez and Napoli's Victor Osimhen have been linked to Al-Hilal. Although Calzada did not comment specifically on these players, he stated: "We are targeting the biggest players." He emphasized ambition but noted that player motivation and mutual agreement are crucial for transactions.

Calzada explained that while they aim to attract top talent, financial prudence is essential. "The only thing we've been trying to remind players and agents is that yes, we are from Saudi, but we don't print notes here!" he said. His role involves ensuring efficient club management to maintain a substantial budget without overspending.

Al-Hilal remains focused on attracting committed players who share their vision beyond financial incentives. They seek individuals eager to contribute to their competitive ambitions rather than those solely motivated by monetary gain.