Al Hilal CEO talks about Ronaldo loan , answers Nunez, Osimhen reports

The chief executive of Saudi Pro League powerhouse Al-Hilal, Esteve Calzada, has definitively put an end to speculation linking the club with a loan move for Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the Club World Cup. Calzada branded the idea as "completely counter-intuitive," citing Ronaldo's current association with Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal's fiercest rival, despite both clubs falling under the Public Investment Fund (PIF) umbrella.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to be out of contract with Al-Nassr at the end of June, became a subject of transfer whispers after FIFA introduced an additional transfer window specifically for the revamped Club World Cup earlier this month. However, speaking from Miami, where Al-Hilal is set to face Ronaldo's former club Real Madrid in their opening fixture, Calzada elaborated on the decision. "As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognise he is, it's certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you," Calzada told BBC Sport. He emphasized the brevity of a potential loan—just "three to four weeks"—making it an unfeasible long-term strategic decision.

Calzada explained that Al-Hilal's transfer approach is far more strategic than short-term fixes. He noted the "very weird, very short" transfer window for the tournament, highlighting the difficulty of securing significant talent with many players already in holiday mode or demanding excessive fees. "We'll go into the traditional transfer window after the tournament still with the biggest ambitions to see if we can reinforce the team even more," he affirmed.

Al-Hilal's CEO clarified the club's broader philosophy, stating they are "targeting the biggest players" and are in a position to "pitch to any players nowadays," evidenced by links to names like Bruno Fernandes, Darwin Nunez, and Victor Osimhen. However, he stressed, "we don't print notes here!" underscoring their commitment to efficient club management and avoiding overspending. "We need to see hunger from the player himself and the transaction needs to work out both ways... we still want players extremely keen on coming, and not only looking for the money," Calzada asserted, explaining why they sometimes walk away from negotiations.

No regrets about Neymar

Reflecting on the record signing of Neymar, who departed in January after an injury-plagued spell, Calzada expressed "no regret at all." He highlighted the positive collateral effect of Neymar's presence, noting it significantly boosted the club's global popularity and social media following, a "legacy that can stay with us" even after his departure.

Looking ahead, Al-Hilal has recently appointed Simone Inzaghi as their new head coach, days after his former club Inter Milan lost the Champions League final. Calzada articulated the club's clear expectations for Inzaghi: to "win again and to re-establish our championship," following a season where they finished second in the Saudi Pro League. Their upcoming Club World Cup match against Real Madrid, a repeat of the 2022 final, presents a "huge opportunity" to showcase their product and test their level on a global stage.