Esteve Calzada, CEO of Saudi club Al-Hilal, has dismissed the idea of a loan move for Cristiano Ronaldo.
He called such a deal “completely counter-intuitive” due to Ronaldo playing for rival club Al-Nassr, despite both being PIF-controlled.
Calzada explained that a short-term, three-to-four-week loan for the Club World Cup didn’t align with their long-term strategy.
He also noted challenges in the current transfer window, with some players seeking excessive fees or already in “holiday mindset.”
While not confirming specific targets, Calzada affirmed Al-Hilal’s ambition to sign top players, but “not at any cost.” He also defended the signing of Neymar, despite his injury-plagued spell, citing the significant boost to the club’s global popularity.
Looking forward, Calzada expects new coach Simone Inzaghi to help Al-Hilal “win again” after finishing second in the league.
He views their upcoming Club World Cup match against Real Madrid as a vital opportunity to showcase the team’s talent and ambition.
