Saudi Minister Claims He Supported Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Only ‘For a Week’ in 2012 – “But This Talk Is Old”

Al Nassr is among the most popular clubs in Saudi Arabia. After all, not every soccer club has Cristiano Ronaldo lining up for them. Yet, a former Al Nassr fan doesn’t seem to be rooting for them now. Incidentally, this person is Turki Al-Sheikh, who also happens to be the chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. What could have happened to this ‘old’ fan?

Recently, the minister had claimed that the news of him supporting Luis Castro’s side is not entirely accurate. He said, translated via DeepL), “I supported Al-Nasr for a week, but this talk is old, maybe 2012.” Although it is not yet known which club he currently supports, one thing is clear. Turki Al-Sheikh is a huge CR7 fan.

The minister had put up a tweet in July 2022 when CR7 was finding it hard to secure a move away from Manchester United. A key line in his tweet read, “Cristiano must save face and end a major contract soon.” Could the minister have played a part in CR7’s move to Al Nassr? It sure looks that way. Additionally, he also stated that Ronaldo’s transfer from Real Madrid was the beginning of his mistakes. However, he did avoid controversy by claiming the statements as his ‘personal opinion’.

Interestingly, Turki Al-Sheikh also played a key role in the 2023 Al Nassr vs PSG friendly match which featured Lionel Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo. As part of the promotional activities, the minister had kickstarted an auction for a golden ticket. The ticket holder would be able to attend the presentation ceremony and visit the dressing rooms. Interestingly, the ticket fetched more than $2.6 million.

Read More: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Offer Seko Fofana & $10.6M Deal to Sign Al Shabab Star: Reports

Speaking of a Messi-Ronaldo match, Al Nassr is set to take on Inter Miami next month. It seems the minister has his clear favorites for the tie.

Turki Al-Sheikh makes expectations clear for the home teams

The match between the two teams is scheduled for February 1st. Yet, the Sheikh has already made his demands clear. He said, “The winner of the Riyadh Season Cup must be a Saudi club.” Al Nassr is not the only Saudi club participating in the tournament, as Neymar’s Al Hilal is also in the running.

The minister’s words surely add to the pressure of what is already a huge game. Dubbed the ‘last dance‘, this is likely the last time that the 2 soccer icons will be facing each other. The duo have met 36 times previously, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top this time around. However

What do you think of the Saudi Minister’s claims? Tell us in the comments below.

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