*Evening News Round-up: Saturday 24 May 2025* *Headlines* *Road To State House: Tagwirei Enlists Presidential Guard Chief’s Wife As Campaign Chief* *No Rally At Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm, Says ZANU PF Amid Tagwirei Storm* *Teachers Plead For Intervention Over Living Wage Dispute* *Gono To Testify Against Business Couple Accused Of Hijacking His Company* *South Africa Crime Statistics Debunk 'White Genocide' Claims: minister* *UN Rights Chief Urges Warring Sides In South Sudan To 'Pull Back From The Brink'* *Ugandan Activist Alleges She Was Raped While In Tanzanian Detention* *EU Vows To Defend Interests After Trump Threatens 50 Percent Tariffs* *Ukraine Says 15 People Hurt In 'Massive' Russian Attack On Kyiv* *UN Chief Says Gaza Entering ‘Cruellest Phase’ Of War As Palestinians Starve* *Bashir Takes Six To Seal England Win Over Zimbabwe* *Ronaldo 'Could Play' In Club World Cup: Infantino* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *Road To State House: Tagwirei Enlists Presidential Guard Chief’s Wife As Campaign Chief* The wife of Presidential Guard Commander Brigadier General Fidelis Mhonda was the main co-ordinator of Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s event on land tenure held in Masvingo on Friday, it has emerged. Nyasha Mhonda appeared at the event wearing a beret written ED – President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s initials. The event was widely seen as the launch of Tagwirei’s ambitious bid to succeed Mnangagwa, allegedly with the Zanu PF leader’s backing. Tagwirei has been linked to a plot to succeed Mnangagwa by stopping his deputy Constantino Chiwenga from succeeding him. He has not publicly spoken about his political intentions. The businessman’s entry into politics was announced in March when Zanu PF’s provincial executives in Masvingo and Harare called for his co-option into the central committee. Since then, Tagwirei has not looked back, allegedly using a war-chest from questionable government contracts to buy his way to the presidency. Outspoken war veteran Blessed Runesu Geza recently claimed that Tagwirei was paying General Mhonda US$25,000 every month for his protection. His wife’s appearance at the event will fuel speculation about his role in Zanu PF’s succession politics. The Masvingo youth programme, seen as the beginning of a journey to introduce and endear himself with various provinces. The meeting was dubbed the “Land Tenure Implementation Leadership Success Series Programme”, an initiative Tagwirei said would be rolled out countrywide. It is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, led by the minister Tatenda Mavetera. The launch was attended by Masvingo minister Ezra Chadzamira, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services Commissioner Stanley Kondongwe, Zanu PF Masvingo chairman Rabison Mavhenyengwa and his deputy, Trust Mugabe, among others. Tagwirei described the programme under which the government plans to give resettled farmers title deeds as a bold step towards youth empowerment through agricultural productivity and land utilisation. He said Zimbabwe’s economic future lies in unlocking the potential of its young people, particularly in the land and natural resource sectors. According to Tagwirei, there was a need to bring women into land reform decision-making structures and promote innovation and sustainability in land use. Tagwirei is leader of the recently formed Land Tenure Implementation Committee which has been criticised by the war veterans as an attempt to reverse the land reform programme. War veterans, led by Joseph Chinguwa, have since made a Constitutional Court application challenging the programme, arguing that farmers will be forced to buy the land from the government to obtain the promised title deeds. Best Zinyama, a local youth activist and agricultural student, said the programme lacks transparency and risks becoming a vehicle for political patronage. “It’s deeply troubling that this launch was attended only by political figures and loyalists. Where are the voices of the young people who are supposed to benefit from this? How are land allocations going to be handled? Who will monitor the process?” he questioned. Tagwirei insisted that the goal is to build a new generation of land-conscious leaders who can contribute meaningfully to the country’s development. *Zimlive* *No Rally At Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm, Says ZANU PF Amid Tagwirei Storm* ZANU PF has strongly dismissed claims that a star rally is planned for President Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm, saying the only event taking place involves top leadership — not the public. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), party official Farai Muroiwa Marapira labelled circulating rally posters as fake. “The poster below is fake. Only Politburo and Central Committee Members will be visiting the President’s farm tomorrow,” wrote Marapira on 24 May 2025. He added that the visit was to “drive and establish a manufacturing economy backed by the throughput of a vibrant farming and mining industry.” The situation took a twist when a post from an account purporting to belong to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (@ZACConline) alleged a deeper agenda. “Why did @marapira_farai wait until this morning to deny a @ZANUPF_Official star rally planned for Precabe Farm?” the post questioned. The post, which has since gone viral, alleged that the event was a covert operation to elevate controversial businessman Kuda Tagwirei to the ZANU PF Politburo and eventually the Presidium. “Who is funding this jaunt at Precabe — obviously it’s Tagwirei… We cannot watch quietly a process to elevate the man behind the massive corruption and grand theft of national funds and minerals,” the post continued. It ended by urging Politburo members to reject the move and instead “pass a resolution for the arrest of Tagwirei and his accomplices.” ‘That account was hijacked’ However, hours before the controversial post went out, another account claiming to be the official ZACC handle, @ZACConline_, issued a warning. “Kindly note that the account @ZACConline was hijacked in June 2024, and efforts to reclaim it have been futile,” it stated on 23 May 2025. This means the dramatic statement may not be from ZACC at all — though it had already sparked intense debate online. *Chin’ono wades in* Award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono didn’t miss the moment to weigh in on the confusion. “Efforts to recover it were futile because you are a bunch of incompetent people appointed based on where you come from or who you are related to… Useless people!!” he posted, referring to government appointees. The alleged rally, the hijacked ZACC account, and the accusations around Tagwirei have all collided into a cloud of confusion, with no clear resolution in sight. ZANU PF has not commented further beyond Marapira’s initial statement. *Teachers Plead For Intervention Over Living Wage Dispute* PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged traditional leaders and key government ministries to intensify efforts to combat social ills such as drug abuse, gender-based violence (GBV), child pregnancies, and early marriages. Mnangagwa was speaking at the launch of the cultural month in Chiredzi Thursday where he said these challenges threaten the moral fabric of Zimbabwean society despite progress in cultural revival. "While our commemorations continue to chronicle our success stories in cultural renaissance, we still grapple with societal ills affecting the moral fabric of our nation. These include; drug and substance abuse, gender-based violence, child pregnancies and early child marriages, among others. "I call upon traditional leaders, and the ministries responsible for Social Welfare as well as Primary and Secondary Education, among other stakeholders, to scale up the implementation of concrete interventions for the benefit of our children and the youth, who are the future of this nation," Mnangagwa said. Zimbabwe is grappling with an alarming rise in drug and substance abuse cases, particularly among the youth. At the same time women’s rights statistics say that nearly half of the country’s female population has been subjected to GBV, while child marriages still persist with one in three women having been married in childhood. The President also said the government has committed to investing in education, infrastructure, and the arts to support cultural preservation, creative industries, and the development of cultural centres. "From the government’s side, we stand ready to invest in education, infrastructure, and the arts as well as to support initiatives that promote cultural preservation and the creative industries. "Funds have also been set aside to establish, renovate, and equip culture centres across the country. These centres will serve as hubs for preserving and promoting Zimbabwe’s diverse cultural heritage, including traditional music, dance, art, and crafts. "Additionally, the development of film studios to boost the local film industry, along with funding for infrastructure, equipment, and capacity building programmes for filmmakers, are being supported and prioritised." *NewZW* *Gono To Testify Against Business Couple Accused Of Hijacking His Company* The trial of local businessman Clark Makoni and his wife Beverly, who face charges of fraudulently transferring former Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono’s company into their names, is nearing its conclusion, with Gono scheduled to appear in court. The State indicated that only two witnesses, Gono and investigating officer Eric Chacha, remain to testify before their case closes. Gono is scheduled to give evidence in court on June 13. At the start of their trial before regional magistrate Stanford Mambanje, the couple denied the fraud allegations, frequently referencing Gono and claiming that all previous witnesses were unaware of their agreements with him while eagerly awaiting his testimony. The trial continued on Friday with the State presenting evidence from Fadzai Chiro, a former accountant at Valley Lodge, who testified she met Clark during her 2023 job interview and was seeing Beverly for the first time in court. She told the court that her job was to prepare monthly reports, budgets and salary schedules. The State alleges the couple forged a CR14 form, appointing Clark as director and company secretary and Beverly as his deputy. They are further accused of misrepresenting themselves to the bank as new shareholders to change account signatories, subsequently taking over the complainant’s company, accessing its bank accounts, and stealing funds. While Chiro stated she only learned of the allegations when her statement was recorded, previous witness Lindiwe Sabeka claimed the couple, acting as estate agents managing Valley Lodge, misappropriated money as salaries. As the accountant, Chiro stated she no longer had complete knowledge of everyone on the salary schedules and might miss names if asked to list them. She explained that the front office received money, which was then transferred to the accounts office, and she paid individuals based on instructions from her manager, Elizabeth Tachiona, confirming she never paid commission to the couple nor knew of Galwex, the company auditor Sabeka allegedly came from. *263chat* *South Africa Crime Statistics Debunk 'White Genocide' Claims: minister* South Africa's latest crime statistics debunk claims that a genocide is being committed against white people, the country's police minister has said. The widely discredited allegation was amplified by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, in an extraordinary meeting with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump told Ramaphosa that white farmers in South Africa were being killed and "persecuted". On Friday, South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said that between January and March, five out of the six people killed on farms were black and one was white. The white victim lived on a farm, while the black people who were killed comprised two farm owners, two employees and one manager. Mchunu said that in the previous quarter, from October to December 2024, 12 murders on farms were recorded. One of the 12 - a farm owner - was white. It is the first time that South Africa's crime statistics have been broken down by race, but Mchunu said he had done so as a result of the recent genocide claims. "The history of farm murders in the country has always been distorted and reported in an unbalanced way," he said. In February, a South African judge dismissed the idea of a genocide as "clearly imagined" and "not real", when ruling in an inheritance case involving a wealthy benefactor's donation to a white supremacist group. Claims of genocide in South Africa have been circulating for years, catching the attention of right-wing groups in the US. Ramaphosa visited the White House on Wednesday in an attempt to reset the countries' relations after Trump granted asylum to nearly 60 Afrikaners - descendants of mainly Dutch settlers who arrived in the 17th Century - saying they were "victims of unjust racial discrimination". During the meeting, which was broadcast live, Trump ambushed Ramaphosa with videos and images intended to support his claim of a white genocide. The BBC found that this "evidence" contained numerous falsehoods. "We have respect for the US as a country, we have respect for the people in that country and for President Trump, but we have no respect for the genocide story. It is totally unfounded and unsubstantiated," Mchunu said on Friday. A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office also condemned Trump's comments. "These are very serious issues. One should not use this word [genocide] casually without deep knowledge of what this means. Looking at the history of South Africa, it is wholly inappropriate," Ravina Shamdasani is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world and Mchunu acknowledged that crime was a huge problem. However, he added that all sections of society were affected. The minister also rejected allegations, repeated by Trump, that government was expropriating land held by white farmers. Earlier this year, Ramaphosa signed a controversial law which allowed the government to seize privately owned land without compensation in some circumstances. The South African government says no land has been seized yet under the act. The law follows years of calls for land reform in South Africa, where the white minority possess the vast majority of privately held land and wealth in the country, more than 30 years since the racist system of apartheid ended. Relations between South Africa and the US have slumped since Trump took office in January. As well as offering asylum to Afrikaners, the US leader has cut aid to South Africa and expelled its ambassador. *BBC* *UN Rights Chief Urges Warring Sides In South Sudan To 'Pull Back From The Brink'* The United Nations rights chief urged on Friday for warring sides in South Sudan to pull back from the brink, warning that the human rights situation risks further deterioration as fighting intensifies. "The escalating hostilities in South Sudan portend a real risk of further exacerbating the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation, and undermining the country’s fragile peace process," said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. "All parties must urgently pull back from the brink," he added. Since May 3 fighting has intensified, with OHCHR citing reports of indiscriminate aerial bombardments and river and ground offensives by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces SSPDF on Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA-IO) positions in parts of Fangak in Jonglei State and in Tonga County in Upper Nile. At least 75 civilians were killed and 78 others injured by the fighting, which displaced thousands from their homes between May 3-20, the agency said. Civilian-populated areas have been targeted, including a medical facility operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF), it added. *Reuters* *Ugandan Activist Alleges She Was Raped While In Tanzanian Detention* A Ugandan activist who was arrested and held for days in Tanzania and later found at the border between the two countries has told the BBC that she was raped while in detention. Expanding on the earlier remarks of her rights group who said she showed "indications of torture", Agather Atuhaire alleged that people dressed in plain clothes "blindfolded" her, after which she was hit, "violently" stripped and sexually assaulted. Atuhaire had been held incommunicado in Tanzania alongside fellow Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who was on Thursday found at the border with his home country. The Tanzanian authorities have not commented. Regional rights groups have called for an investigation and the US Department of State's Bureau of Africa Affairs said it was deeply concerned by the reports of the two activists' mistreatment. "The pain was too much," said Atuhaire, showing the BBC a scar from where she said she had been handcuffed. She added that she was "screaming so hard" that they had to cover her mouth. Atuhaire told the BBC about her alleged rape in graphic detail. She said she also heard screams from Mwangi, and that those holding him had threatened to circumcise him. The pair had gone to Tanzania to show solidarity with opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who appeared in court on Monday after being charged with treason Mwangi recounted his alleged experience in a post on X: "We had been tortured, and we were told to strip naked and to go bathe. We couldn't walk and were told to crawl and go wash off the blood." Despite being allowed into the country, Mwangi and Atuhaire were not permitted to attend the hearing and were arrested. On Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan had warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos". Atuhaire was found abandoned at the border on Thursday night after being held in custody since Monday, Agora Centre for Research, the Uganda-based rights group that she leads, posted on X. Uganda's high commissioner to Tanzania Fred Mwesigye said Atuhaire had "safely returned home" and had been "warmly received by her family". Mwangi, who was earlier found abandoned on a roadside in northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, said he had heard Atuhaire "groaning in pain" when they were held together on Tuesday. "Any attempt to speak to each other during the night we were tortured was met with kicks and insults. We were removed from the torture location in different vehicles," Mwangi added. He said those who were holding them were getting orders from a "state security" official, who directed the activist to be given a "Tanzanian treatment". Mwangi's disappearance had sparked widespread concern across Kenya, with his family, civil society and human rights groups staging protests and demanding his release. On Wednesday, the Kenyan government formally protested against his detention, accusing the Tanzanian authorities of denying consular access despite repeated requests. Earlier on Thursday, Kenya's foreign affairs ministry issued a statement saying it had not been able to access the activist. Regional rights groups have called for an investigation into the alleged mistreatment of the activists by the Tanzanian authorities and urged all East African countries to uphold rights treaties. The US Department of State's Bureau of Africa Affairs said it was deeply concerned by the reports of the two activists' mistreatment, noting that Ms Atuhaire had been recognised by the department "in 2024 as an International Women of Courage Awardee". "We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses. We urge all countries in the region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture," it tweeted. *BBC* *EU Vows To Defend Interests After Trump Threatens 50 Percent Tariffs* The European Union has said it will defend its interests after United States President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50-percent tariff on all goods from the 27-member bloc. The EU’s top trade official, Maros Sefcovic, said in a post on X that he spoke on Friday with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on the issue. "The EU is fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both," he said, adding that the EU Commission remains ready to work in good faith towards an agreement. "EU-US trade is unmatched and must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests." Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he is "recommending" a huge 50 percent duty on the EU starting on June 1 since talks with them "are going nowhere". Speaking later in the Oval Office, the Republican president emphasised that he was not seeking a deal with the EU but might delay the tariffs if more European companies made major investments in the US. "I’m not looking for a deal," Trump told the reporters. "We’ve set the deal. It’s at 50 percent." European leaders warned the tariffs will hurt both sides. German economy minister Katherina Reiche said everything must be done "to ensure that the European Commission reaches a negotiated solution with the United States" while French foreign minister Laurent Saint-Martin said the bloc prefers de-escalation but is "ready to respond". If implemented, the tariffs would mean that the EU will have higher import taxes on its hundreds of billions worth of exported goods compared with China, which had its tariffs cut earlier this month to allow more negotiations between Washington, DC, and Beijing. In early April, Trump announced a 20 percent tariff on most EU goods but brought it down to 10 percent until July 8 to allow time for more negotiations. Trump has complained that existing frameworks are "unfair" to US companies as the European bloc sells more goods to its ally than it buys from it. Trump on Friday also warned that the US tech giant Apple could also be hit with a 25 percent import tax on all iPhones not manufactured but sold in the US. His announcements online dealt another blow to stock markets both in the US and in the EU, with the S&P 500 down about 0.8 percent and the pan-European STOXX 600 index falling about 1.2 percent. *Aljazeera* *Ukraine Says 15 People Hurt In 'Massive' Russian Attack On Kyiv* Russia launched dozens of drones and ballistic missiles at Kyiv overnight in one of the biggest combined aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital of the three-year war, damaging several apartment buildings and injuring 15 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a social media post it had been a "tough night" for Ukraine, and called for new international sanctions to pressure Moscow into agreeing to a ceasefire. In the early hours of the morning, Reuters witnesses saw and heard successive waves of drones flying over Kyiv, and a series of explosions jolted the city. The capital also reverberated with the sound of anti-aircraft batteries trying to bring down the drones. Pictures from Reuters photographers showed an orange-red glow lighting up the city as plumes of smoke blew across the horizon. On the top floor of one apartment building, smoke and flames billowed out of a balcony window as firefighters tried to approach. By daybreak, government officials reported damage in six districts of the Ukrainian capital, and a total so far of 15 people wounded. Three required hospitalisation. Two of the injured were children, the officials said. The Kyiv city military administration described it as one of the most massive combined drone and missile attacks of the war. The attacks come as U.S. President Donald Trump is encouraging Russia and Ukraine to sit down for ceasefire talks to end the war, but has pushed back against a European plan to impose new sanctions on Russia. Halyna Tatarchuk, a 63-year-old pensioner, was in her apartment when a drone hit the building. She and her husband were in the corridor, away from the windows. "That saved us," she said. She fled to a bomb shelter at a nearby school, then at daylight returned to inspect the damage. All the windows of her apartment were smashed, and the floor was covered in fragments of glass. "I'd like Trump to see this," she said, standing in her kitchen. "What's he doing? Can he really not see this? ...It's the destruction of a people, they are just destroying us," she said, referring to the Russian military. In the street below her third-floor windows, trees had been splintered by the blast and car windows were smashed. Municipal workers were using a mini-excavator to clear up debris from the ground. *Reuters* *UN Chief Says Gaza Entering ‘Cruellest Phase’ Of War As Palestinians Starve* Palestinians in Gaza are enduring "what may be the cruellest phase of this cruel conflict," says the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, warning that Israel’s escalating military campaign and prolonged blockade have pushed the population to the brink of famine. "For nearly 80 days, Israel blocked the entry of life-saving international aid," Guterres said in a statement on Friday, condemning the scale of human suffering. "The entire population of Gaza is facing the risk of famine." Although Israel has allowed only several hundred trucks to cross into Gaza this week following a partial easing of its 11-week siege, Guterres described the flow of supplies as woefully insufficient. "All the aid authorised until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required," he said. The UN chief said the Israeli campaign has intensified with "atrocious levels of death and destruction," while access for humanitarian groups remains dangerous and erratic. "Eighty percent of Gaza has been either declared an Israeli militarised zone or is under evacuation orders," he noted. "Without rapid, reliable, safe and sustained aid access, more people will die – and the long-term consequences on the entire population will be profound," Guterres told reporters in New York. In Gaza, Palestinians are struggling on a daily basis to "find food and drinking water, and still queueing for hours in front of whatever is left of the operational local community kitchens that are providing only a tiny amount of food for a hungry population," said Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City. Israel claims about 300 trucks have entered Gaza since Monday through the Karem Abu Salem crossing, known as Kerem Shalom to Israelis, but the UN says only a third of those deliveries have reached warehouses inside the enclave due to security constraints and chaos on the ground. The figure is far short of the more than 500 trucks that entered Gaza daily before the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. A new United States-backed delivery mechanism – run by the newly established Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) – is expected to take over aid distribution by the end of the month. Under the plan, private contractors would escort supplies to secure hubs, where civilian teams would handle distribution. But the UN has refused to participate, saying the scheme does not meet basic humanitarian standards. "The United Nations has been clear: we will not take part in any scheme that fails to respect international law and the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality," Guterres said. He stressed that the UN already has the infrastructure to respond. "The supplies – 160,000 pallets, enough to fill nearly 9,000 trucks – are waiting," he said. "This is my appeal for life-saving aid for the long-suffering people of Gaza: let’s do it right. And let’s do it right away." *Aljazeera* *Bashir Takes Six To Seal England Win Over Zimbabwe* Shoaib Bashir's six-wicket haul broke Zimbabwe's feisty resistance and led England to victory by an innings and 45 runs inside three days of the one-off Test. Off-spinner Bashir claimed 6-81 at Trent Bridge, his best figures in Test cricket, to dismiss the tourists for 255 in their second innings. As a tune-up for the challenge of India to come later this summer, the home side were not wholly impressive, particularly their seam bowling on the third morning. On a lifeless surface, England collectively lacked penetration and were often loose, allowing Sean Williams to tuck in for 88 from 82 balls. He added 122 for the third wicket with fellow left-hander Ben Curran, who survived two catch attempts and overturned being given lbw in his 37. Bashir removed both either side of lunch. Although Sikandar Raza made 60, England chipped away at the other end. The undoubted highlight was Harry Brook's spectacular catch at second slip to remove Wesley Madhevere, Ben Stokes' third wicket of the match on his return from hamstring surgery. Bashir mopped up the tail. Already in this match, the 21-year-old had become the youngest England bowler to 50 Test wickets and this performance made him only the fourth to have three five-wicket hauls before the age of 22. This was England's first Test in five months, a curtain-raiser for the marquee series against India and Australia. Even though there were moments when this meandered like a pre-season friendly, there were still positives for England to take. England's 565-5 declared in the first innings included much-needed centuries for Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope. Bashir took a career-best nine wickets in the match and, crucially, Stokes looked fit enough to play a full role as an all-rounder. There were times when the pace bowlers struggled, albeit in benign conditions. Sam Cook, on debut, did little to suggest England were wrong to overlook his strong domestic form for so long and Gus Atkinson was largely unthreatening. Josh Tongue, in his first Test for almost two years, was occasionally lively. England can ponder their pace options for India, especially with Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse returning. A bigger decision will be whether to recall Jacob Bethell, and for whom. A white-ball series against West Indies, under new captain Brook, begins on Thursday. Then come the 10 Tests that will define the tenure of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. *BBC* *Ronaldo 'Could Play' In Club World Cup: Infantino* Fifa president Gianni Infantino has claimed "there are discussions" over Cristiano Ronaldo playing at the Club World Cup this summer. Ronaldo's club, Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League, failed to qualify for the expanded 32-team tournament in the United States. But Infantino says the 40-year-old Portugal forward, who is out of contract this summer, could still feature in the new-look event. During an interview with YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed, Infantino talked about Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi playing in the tournament's opening game on 14 June for his Inter Miami side. He then added: "And Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup. "There are discussions with some clubs, so if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup... who knows, who knows." Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United mid-season and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's contract expires on 30 June. This year's Club World Cup will be the first to be played in the summer and the first to feature more than eight teams. World football's governing body Fifa has therefore introduced an additional transfer window from 1-10 June, allowing clubs to complete deals in time for the tournament. Spanish newspaper Marca, external reported last weekend that an unnamed Brazilian club had made an offer to Ronaldo. Botafogo are one of four Brazilian teams to have qualified and their coach Renato Paiva was asked about Ronaldo, external last Sunday. He laughed before saying: "Christmas is only in December. But if he came, you can't say no to a star like that. "I don't know anything - I'm just answering the question. But, as I said, coaches always want the best. Ronaldo, even at his age, is still a goal-scoring machine. In a team that creates chance after chance, he would be good." Botafogo are owned by American businessman John Textor, who also holds a majority stake in Crystal Palace. Ronaldo won the Champions League four times during nine seasons with Real Madrid before joining Juventus in 2018. Real and Juve are among the 12 European clubs that have qualified, which includes Premier League teams Chelsea and Manchester City. Between them either Ronaldo or Messi won the Ballon d'Or from 2008 to 2017, before Messi won it three more times to give the Argentine forward, 37, a record eight wins. Messi's Inter Miami are in the same group as Egypt's Al Ahly, Portuguese side Porto and Brazilian club Palmeiras. *BBC*