'He felt honored' - Marcelo Gallardo confirms he approached Cristiano Ronaldo about playing for River Plate at the Club World Cup

River Plate head coach Marcelo Gallardo revealed on Friday that he personally reached out to Cristiano Ronaldo in an informal attempt to convince the Portuguese star to play in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup for the Argentine giants.

Speaking to ESPN ahead of River’s key clash against Monterrey at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, Gallardo shared the behind-the-scenes story.

“Back in mid-March, through a mutual friend, I casually asked him, ‘Hey, I’ve got a Club World Cup coming up - any interest in playing it? It’s a tournament made for someone like you, who’s left such a mark on the game,'” Gallardo recalled.

According to Gallardo, Ronaldo appreciated the gesture and gave the proposal some thought before ultimately turning it down.

“He felt honored and took time to consider it, but in the end he told me, ‘I have to focus on preparing for next season,’” the former River player and longtime manager added.

Cristiano had previously hinted at this approach during a press appearance, noting that he had received an invitation from “a club in Argentina” to participate in the Club World Cup - without naming names.

Gallardo addressed that moment: “It was such an informal conversation that it would’ve stayed completely private, like many things do, if he hadn’t brought it up himself. That’s why it came to light - he chose to make it public.”

This isn’t the first time Gallardo has crossed paths with Ronaldo. The two shared a brief working experience when Gallardo coached an Arab League All-Star team in a friendly match, where Ronaldo was one of the players.

“I had the chance to coach him in that exhibition game in Saudi Arabia. Beyond being a top professional, he’s also a great person. We kept a nice connection afterward,” Gallardo said.

River Plate are set to face Monterrey this Saturday in a crucial Club World Cup group stage match. The Argentine side comes into the game following a 3-1 win over Urawa Reds, while Monterrey earned a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan.