Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, FIFA Club World Cup
Chris Nee
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, FIFA Club World Cup
FIFA President and supreme leader of world football Gianni Infantino has claimed that there are 'discussions' to enable Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the upcoming Club World Cup.
Ronaldo is not due to travel to the United States of America for the revamped tournament because he plays for a club that isn't involved.
Al-Nassr will remain at home while Saudi Arabia is represented by Al-Hilal, winners of the AFC Champions League in 2021.
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The Portuguese star's nemesis Lionel Messi is expected to play after FIFA awarded Inter Miami a spot for winning the Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield despite the championship actually being decided by MLS Cup at the end of post-season play-offs.
Infantino made a stunning claim about Ronaldo's possible participation and it would be even more scandalous than paving the way for the Flamingos.
A YouTube collaboration between Infantino and YouTuber Darren Watkins, who calls himself 'IShowSpeed' for some reason, was always unlikely to have any redeeming features.
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But Infantino's absurd suggestion plumbed even lower depths than anybody thought possible.
"Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup," Infantino told Watkins' 39 million subscribers.
"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? Still a few weeks’ time, will be fun."
That is total nonsense, of course, and Ronaldo's representatives are reportedly furious about the suggestion that the 40-year-old will be applying for a shiny new US visa to play in the competition.
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Al-Nassr probably aren't delighted about Infantino hawking their player around either.
The Club World Cup begins in June with Egypt's Al-Ahly taking on Messi and Inter Miami in Florida.
Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City will also participate along with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, Benfica and Porto, and Champions League finalists Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
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The South American representatives include Brazilian rivals Flamengo and Fluminense as well as Buenos Aires pair Boca Juniors and River Plate.
"Speculative reports have linked Ronaldo to the one Saudi club that qualified, Al-Hilal, the Brazilian club Palmeiras and Wydad of Morocco, even though that club is currently banned by FIFA from registering new signings," according to Al Jazeera.