Marcelo Gallardo, the coach of River Plate, personally contacted Cristiano Ronaldo with the intention of signing him as a reinforcement for the 2025 Club World Cup. Gallardo aimed to attract Ronaldo with the opportunity to compete for a significant title with River Plate, leveraging his personal connections with Arab football and Al-Nassr. However, Ronaldo declined the offer, stating he has no plans to leave Al-Nassr, where he is under contract and focused on both local and international competitions.