Cristiano Ronaldo has received a handwoven carpet as a gift ahead of Al-Nassr’s Asian Champions League clash against Perspolis....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Following his move to the Saudi Pro League side after his contract at Manchester United was torn up, Ronaldo mania has hit the middle east, with arguably football’s biggest name heading over to become the face of Al-Nassr.
This summer, he was joined in the Saudi Pro League by a host of European footballing superstars, with the likes of Neymar, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte all having followed in Ronaldo’s footsteps.
The latter two also became Ronaldo’s team-mates at Al-Nassr, who begin their Asian Champions League campaign on Tuesday evening when they take on Persepolis on the very same day the Champions League group stages kick-off.
And ahead of the clash against the Iranian side, the 38-year-old has been spotted being handed a special handwoven carpet as a gift upon arriving in Iran. The legendary Portuguese looked impressed by the carpet in photos, with Ronaldo being snapped holding it up.
Iranian club FC Persepolis shows Al-Nassr FC player Cristiano Ronaldo (C) receiving a handmade carpet as a gift from FC Persepolis club officials upon his arrival at the Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran, Iran, 18 September 2023. Al-Nassr will play against FC Persepolis on 19 September in their AFC Champions League group E match.
A huge delegation was there to meet Ronaldo when he was given the gift, with the ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United star graciously accepting their kind gesture, posing for a photo with the entourage who greeted him.
And it seems they weren’t the only people excited to meet the five time Ballon d’Or winner either. It has been reported that such is the Ronaldo mania in Iran ahead of the Asian Champions League clash, Al Nassr actually had to cancel their training session due the massive crowds.
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Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr Club looks on during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab at King Saud University Stadium on August 29, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Footage posted on Al-Nassr’s social media platforms also show hordes of people flocking to run next to their team bus, eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer.
And over in the Saudi Pro League, so far this term, Ronaldo’s side sit sixth after six games, having won four and lost two. Al-Hilal, the team that bought Neymar, Ruben Neves, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, currently sit top of the table, having won five of their opening six.
