Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzada has shared his thoughts on the recent talk linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a surprising move from Al Nassr. Speaking with Diario AS, Calzada made it clear that such a transfer would be highly unlikely, calling it “a very unusual situation” due to the intense rivalry between the two Saudi clubs.

He compared the relationship between Al Hilal and Al Nassr to that of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, emphasizing that Ronaldo, as captain of Al Nassr, represents their “eternal rival.” “Bringing in a player from your biggest rival isn’t something you see every day,” Calzada said, downplaying the possibility of Ronaldo switching sides. Moreover, Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr is set to run until the end of June.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso had special praise for Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold after their 1-1 draw with Al Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday. Both players made their debut for the Spanish side, having joined earlier this summer—Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool and Huijsen from Bournemouth.

Alonso described the occasion as a special moment for the pair and believes they have a key role to play in Madrid’s future. “I want to congratulate Dean and Trent,” he said. “It’s a big day for them, and they’re going to be very important for us.”

The manager also addressed the early substitution of Raul Asencio, explaining it was due to the intense heat during the game. Madrid will now shift focus to their next match against Pachuca on Sunday.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has opened up about why his team couldn’t secure a win against Al Hilal in their FIFA Club World Cup opener on Wednesday. The Spanish giants were held to a 1-1 draw at the Hard Rock Stadium in the United States, with Gonzalo Garcia and Ruben Neves each finding the net for their respective sides.

After the match, Alonso admitted that Madrid’s display fell short, pointing out several issues both in possession and without the ball. He highlighted the need for more composure and better structure during the game. “We were missing a lot, especially in the first half,” Alonso said. “On and off the ball, things weren’t clicking.”

He revealed that during the break, he urged his players to slow things down and stop forcing plays. While the second half showed some improvement, Alonso admitted it still wasn’t good enough. “What we need is better balance with the ball,” he explained. “We had more control in the second half, kept the ball longer, and got closer to their goal, but it still wasn’t where we need to be.”