SOCCER
Cristiano Ronaldo receives “Messi, Messi” chants from Saudi fans
The Portuguese star and Al-Nassr were eliminated from the Saudi Arabian Super Cup, and memories of an old foe were awakened.
On Thursday, the semifinals of the Saudi Arabian Super Cup were held, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s new club Al-Nassr was eliminated at the hands of Al-Ittihad (3-1). It was the first defeat of the Portuguese legend’s Saudi adventure -- only his second competitive game -- but there was an added, surely annoying, factor in the loss, and it came from the stands.
Watch Cristiano Ronaldo’s unique reaction to being filmed in a restaurant.
After arrival and recognition at the King Fahd International Stadium, the man who rose to his greatest at Real Madrid, as well as with the Portugal national team, was mocked by the rivals fans, as they repeatedly chanted, “Messi, Messi”. Cristiano’s nemesis in LaLiga and Argentina’s recent World Cup hero was an easy go-to topic in an attempt to get under the skin of the forward who chose to leave the elite leagues.
Al-Hilal dream of Messi
Another of the big clubs in the Asian country is Al-Hilal, who are currently in second place in the Saudi Pro League and they too, like Al-Nassr, were eliminated from the Super Cup. In previous weeks there have been reports that the blue side of Riyadh has prepared an offer of more than $300 million for Lionel Messi to come in.
Likewise, after the signing of Ronaldo, social media was awash with Al-Hilal team shirts with the number ‘10′ and the surname Messi on the back. Could we see the old rivalry return?
Cristiano Ronaldo's next game in Arabia
After the painful elimination from the Saudi Super Cup, Ronaldo and his new club must think about matchday 15 of the league championship, where they will face Al-Fateh, a team that has the Peruvian Christian Cueva and where the Spaniard Cristian Tello was before moving to the MLS.
With a first goal awaited, CR7 will have his next opportunity on Friday, February 3.