'Chapter over' - is Ronaldo set for Club World Cup?

Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested he is group to time off Al-Nassr pinch a cryptic station connected societal media.

The 40-year-old, who joined nan Saudi Arabian nine successful January 2023, is retired of statement adjacent month.

Ronaldo scored nan opener - nan 800th nine extremity of his profession - arsenic Al Nassr vanished their play pinch a 3-2 conclusion by Al-Fateh to decorativeness 3rd successful nan Saudi Pro League.

Following nan defeat, Ronaldo posted connected his X account: "This section is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all."

But what does nan early clasp for nan Manchester United fable and could he extremity up playing astatine adjacent month's Club World Cup?

Last week, Fifa president Gianni Infantino raised nan imaginable that Ronaldo subordinate a squad progressive astatine nan Club World Cup aft Al-Nassr's nonaccomplishment to qualify.

"Ronaldo mightiness play for 1 of nan teams arsenic good astatine nan Club World Cup," Infantino told YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed.

"There are discussions pinch immoderate clubs, truthful if immoderate nine is watching and is willing successful hiring Ronaldo for nan Club World Cup... who knows, who knows?"

This summer's Club World Cup, which is being held successful nan United States, is simply a large trial for Fifa.

It is nan first to beryllium held successful summer, and successful its caller format pinch 32 teams.

However, wide waste tickets stay for nan mostly of matches being played - including nan opener featuring Lionel Messi's Inter Miami against Al-Ahly.

There are only a fewer teams successful world shot that could spend Ronaldo's wages.

He became nan best-paid subordinate successful shot history erstwhile he joined Al-Nassr successful 2023, connected a woody reportedly worthy £177m-a-year.

However, Ronaldo whitethorn beryllium consenting to motion a short-term woody pinch a nine to play successful nan Club World Cup earlier reassessing his future.

Spanish newspaper Marca, external claimed past week that a nine successful Brazil had submitted an connection to motion Ronaldo.

Botafogo - 1 of 4 Brazilian clubs competing astatine nan tourney - person been linked pinch nan forward.

Asked astir nan imaginable of signing Ronaldo, head Renato Paiva said: "Christmas is only successful December. But if he came, you can't opportunity nary to a prima for illustration that.

"I don't cognize thing - I'm conscionable answering nan question. But, arsenic I said, coaches ever want nan best. Ronaldo, moreover astatine his age, is still a goal-scoring machine. In a squad that creates chance aft chance, he would beryllium good."

The summertime transportation model successful England opens connected 16 June and closes connected 1 September.

However, location is simply a 10-day model unfastened for nan 32 teams competing successful nan Club World Cup, moving from 1-10 June.

Fifa granted support for an other transportation model truthful that Club World Cup participants could motion players for nan tournament.

The tournament, which is being held crossed 12 stadiums successful nan United States, starts connected 15 June.

Sixty-three matches will beryllium played successful all, pinch nan last down held astatine nan MetLife Stadium connected 13 July.