Cristiano Ronaldo’s name had been circulating in transfer rumors once again, this time linking him to Saudi rivals Al-Hilal ahead of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. But Al-Hilal’s chief executive has firmly dismissed the idea, calling such a move “completely counter-intuitive.”

Ronaldo, 40, recently finished the 2024–25 Saudi Pro League season as the top scorer with 25 goals for Al-Nassr. With his contract set to expire at the end of June and FIFA introducing an extra transfer window to accommodate the restructured Club World Cup, speculation had grown about a possible short-term switch.

However, speaking to BBC Sport, Al-Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada explained why the club never seriously considered the deal.

“As much as I respect Ronaldo for being the global star he is, it would be completely counter-intuitive to bring the biggest player from your biggest rival to play for you—especially for just three or four weeks,” Calzada said.

He also noted that such rumors often emerge when players or agents are seeking leverage during contract negotiations. “We don’t usually comment on player situations because our name often gets used to stir negotiations elsewhere,” he added.

Calzada described the current transfer period—prompted by the Club World Cup changes—as unusual and brief, making long-term planning difficult. “You don’t want to make a decision based on a single tournament and then be tied to it for years,” he said.

Despite the speculation, Al-Hilal are focused on strengthening their already competitive squad. “We’ve looked at options, but some players were already in holiday mode, others were demanding too much. After the tournament, we’ll return to the regular transfer window with full ambition to reinforce the team further,” he concluded.

Ronaldo remains a key figure at Al-Nassr, and any future move—if it comes—will likely happen after his contract officially ends.