African Giants Turn Attention to Ex-Barcelona and Chelsea Forward After Cristiano Ronaldo Move Proves Difficult

Wydad president Hicham Ait Mena (right) is trying to sign Spanish forward Pedro.

African Giants Turn Attention to Ex-Barcelona and Chelsea Forward After Cristiano Ronaldo Move Proves Difficult

Joel Omotto 11:50 - 28.05.2025

Having failed to lure Cristiano Ronaldo, an African football giant has now shifted focus to signing a former Barcelona and Chelsea attacker who is still flying in Europe.

With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon, participating clubs are pushing hard to strengthen their squads for the money-minting tournament.

FIFA has set aside a special transfer window that will allow all 32 teams to strengthen their teams either on a temporary basis or permanently to be ready for the tournament that takes place between June 14 and July 13 in the United States.

Teams have already been busy in the market and among them are African sides who have signed players and coaches to be in a good position to compete.

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Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club are among the teams that have been busy, having signed home boy Nordin Amrabat and Burkinabe forward Stephane Aziz Ki.

Wydad have also shown great ambitions and were just last week rumoured to have sounded out one of the biggest names to ever play the game Cristiano Ronaldo with a view to handing him a short-term deal to play for them at the Club World Cup.

Which Other Big Names Are Wydad Targeting?

37-year-old Pedro is a target for Wydad AC.

With the Ronaldo deal proving problematic, Wydad’s big ambitions have not stopped and now, according to Africa Soccer, they are keen to lure former Barcelona and Chelsea forward Pedro to Casablanca.

The outlet reports that the Spanish forward, who plays for Serie A side Lazio, has held talks over a possible deal with Wydad although an agreement is far from being reached as he is open to a short-term deal but the club are keen on an extended stay.

Pedro is reported to enjoy a good relationship with Wydad president Hicham Ait Mena and there is hope that this could speed up a deal with the 37-year-old World Cup winner, who scored 14 goals and provided five assists for Lazio, in the just-concluded season.

Wydad are also reported to be in talks with Moroccan winger Sofiane Boufal who has just won the league with Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise.