Al Hilal president Bin Nafal has revealed why the Saudi Pro League club failed in their attempts to sign high-profile players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Victor Osimhen, and Bruno Fernandes ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Saudi giants had ambitious plans to strengthen their squad following the appointment of Simone Inzaghi from Inter Milan as their new manager. Al Hilal specifically targeted Al Nassr's Ronaldo, who becomes a free agent at the end of this month, with hopes of securing him on a short-term deal for the prestigious tournament.
In addition to Ronaldo, the club also pursued Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, and AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez, but none of these transfers materialized.
Speaking about the failed transfer attempts, Bin Nafal cited timing issues and unreasonable demands as the primary obstacles.
"We've spoken with many players, but they want to go on vacation after a long season. We tried to sign several players before the World Cup, but were unsuccessful due to lack of time and faced illogical offers," Bin Nafal explained, as quoted by Goal.
The club did manage to secure Inzaghi as their manager after his departure from Inter Milan following a 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, representing a significant coup despite the disappointment in player recruitment.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo's future remains uncertain as he approaches the end of his current contract with Al Nassr, while Osimhen continues to attract interest from multiple clubs, including Galatasaray, who are reportedly ready to make him the highest-paid player in Turkey.
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