al nasar – The Milli Chronicle https://millichronicle.com Factual Version of a Story Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:12:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://media.millichronicle.com/2018/11/12122950/logo-m-01-150x150.png al nasar – The Milli Chronicle https://millichronicle.com 32 32 Iranian soccer fans flock to Cristiano Ronaldo’s hotel after he arrives in Tehran with Saudi team https://millichronicle.com/2023/09/iranian-soccer-fans-flock-to-cristiano-ronaldos-hotel-after-he-arrives-in-tehran-with-saudi-team.html Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:06:14 +0000 https://millichronicle.com/?p=46641 Tehran (AP) — Hundreds of soccer fans stormed into a hotel in Tehran on Monday, hoping for a glimpse of star player Cristiano Ronaldo after he arrived with his Saudi teammates ahead of a game.

Chanting “Ronaldo, Ronaldo,” the fans pushed past police, filling the corridors and public spaces of the Espians Palace Hotel.

Ronaldo arrived on his first visit to Iran with the Saudi football club Al Nassr, which is set to play Iran’s Persepolis in Tehran on Sept. 19. The return game will be played in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Nov. 27.

Ronaldo was the first of several big-name players to accept lavish contracts to play for Saudi teams. The oil-rich kingdom is spending billions of dollars to try to transform itself into a sports and entertainment powerhouse.

The Asian Champions League games are made possible by the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia following an agreement brokered by China earlier this year. The longtime rivals had severed ties in 2016 after an angry crowd stormed Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran to protest Saudi Arabia’s execution of a popular Shiite cleric.

The 2015 Asian Champions League edition was the last time Saudi and Iranian teams faced each other on home turf in the group stage or knockout rounds.

]]> No going back, Ronaldo closes door on return to Europe https://millichronicle.com/2023/07/no-going-back-ronaldo-closes-door-on-return-to-europe.html Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:29:25 +0000 https://millichronicle.com/?p=41347 (Reuters) – Cristiano Ronaldo said there is no chance of him playing club football in Europe again and that the Saudi Arabian league is better than Major League Soccer, where his great rival Lionel Messi has chosen to begin the next chapter in his career.

Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in December on a 2-1/2 year contract following his exit from Manchester United, said he had paved the way for other top players to sign with Saudi teams and that more would make the move to the desert kingdom.

The 38-year-old Portugal captain, speaking after Al Nassr’s 5-0 loss to Celta Vigo in a pre-season friendly on Monday, said most European leagues were in decline.

“I’m 100% sure I won’t return to any European club. I’m 38-years-old,” ESPN quoted him as saying.

“European football has lost a lot of quality. The only valid one and still doing good is the (English) Premier League. They’re way ahead of all the other leagues.”

Ronaldo’s long-time rival Messi was also linked with a move to Saudi Arabia before the Argentine World Cup winner completed a transfer to MLS side Inter Miami, signing a deal until 2025.

“The Saudi league is better than MLS,” Ronaldo said.

“Now all the players are coming here … In one year, more top players will come to Saudi Arabia.”

Several high-profile players have followed Ronaldo to the Saudi league, including Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and N’Golo Kante from Chelsea, who both joined champions Al-Ittihad.

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