Fluminense’s bold bid for two superstars rejected | OneFootball

Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt has confirmed that the Brazilian club made audacious attempts to sign both Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr ahead of this summer's expanded Club World Cup, only to see their efforts firmly rebuffed.

With the 32-team Club World Cup set to kick off in mid-June, Fluminense—one of the South American participants—explored the possibility of temporarily adding global superstars whose current teams will not appear at the tournament. According to Bittencourt, the club reached out to the camps of both Ronaldo, who is under contract at Al-Nassr, and Neymar, currently at Al-Hilal.

Bittencourt detailed his outreach: "I called Jorge Mendes, who has been Cristiano Ronaldo's agent throughout his career. I asked if there was any chance he could play in the Club World Cup with Fluminense, and he was very clear: the player has no interest in playing Brazilian football." The president also disclosed similar contact with Neymar’s entourage, and while Neymar reportedly admitted it "would be a dream" to play in the competition, he also ultimately declined to pursue the move.

The initiative highlights Fluminense's intent to make a mark at the reimagined Club World Cup, and their willingness to explore unconventional signings underlines the rising prominence of the tournament among ambitious clubs from outside Europe. Despite falling short in their efforts to lure two of the game’s most recognizable names, the Rio de Janeiro side remain hopeful of making an impact in a group featuring Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD, and Mamelodi Sundowns.

For Al-Nassr, the episode serves as another reminder of Ronaldo’s commitment to fulfilling his contract in Saudi Arabia, and of the enduring pull that he, and players of Neymar’s stature, hold for clubs worldwide—even for short-term, high-profile assignments.

There remains no suggestion that either Ronaldo or Neymar is looking to leave the Saudi Pro League at present, and both continue to feature prominently for their respective clubs. Recent speculation about possible successors or big-name additions at Al-Nassr—including strong interest in the likes of Liverpool’s Luis Diaz—reflects the club’s ongoing ambition and the ever-turning wheels of transfer rumour. But for now, the prospect of seeing Ronaldo and Neymar in Fluminense colours is firmly off the table.

Source: 90min