Wydad Casablanca president on Cristiano Ronaldo links: ‘We would’ve loved to have him’ | OneFootball

Wydad Casablanca president Hicham Aït-Menna has spoken for the first time about rumours linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a shock move to the Moroccan club ahead of this summer’s Club World Cup.

Speaking on RMC’s After Afrique, Aït-Menna confirmed 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 host nation’s top clubs.

Aït-Menna hinted that FIFA themselves 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.GFFN | George Boxall