Fluminense Pursuing Cristiano Ronaldo for World Cup Participation: "He Made His Intentions Clear"...
orszagosport.com | Fluminense Tried to Sign Ronaldo and Neymar for the 2025 Club World Cup
In an exclusive chat on 'Setor Sul', Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt spilled the beans on his ambitious plans to lure Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to the Rio de Janeiro club. Contrary to popular belief, these attempts were made in preparation for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup held in the United States, not in 2023.
"I have a decent rapport with Jorge Mendes, though not close. I gave him a ring, and he answered. He's been Ronaldo's manager for ages, but their relationship has changed. We discussed the feasibility of Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup," Bittencourt disclosed.
"Ronaldo made it crystal clear to me that at the moment, he's got no enthusiasm for Brazilian football. I countered by mentioning how Fluminense's colors match Portugal's, and our fans would adore him.
"We floated the idea. Word on the street is that the players' concern over Rio de Janeiro's violence, particularly the incident involving Flamengo's Rossi, has been deterring them," Bittencourt added.
"As for Neymar, Renato Gaucho and I go way back. I approached him about the possibility of bringing Neymar on board. He was thrilled and shared the idea with Neymar.
"Neymar Senior was courteous and open to discussing the opportunity. I spoke to the Santos president and secured his authorization, but Neymar decided to take some time off to recuperate instead," Bittencourt concluded.
Additional Insights:- Contrary to popular belief, Fluminense's overtures to both Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar occurred prior to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, not in 2023.- There was no official negotiation or signed contracts in 2023 for either player to join the Brazilian club for a league campaign. The interest was solely related to the international club tournament scheduled for 2025.- Fluminense qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup as champions of the 2023 Copa Libertadores. Source
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Despite not having a close relationship with Jorge Mendes, Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt made an attempt to sign European football stars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, not for the current leagues, but specifically for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, showcasing their intent to compete with sportsmen from European-leagues in this international tournament. Although Ronaldo had reservations about Brazilian football, talks were also held with Neymar, but he decided to take a break instead of joining the Laliga club, Fluminense.
