Football celebrity Cristiano Ronaldo got the name of his brand-new host country wrong while speaking at his very first interview in Saudi Arabia following his multi-million dollar transfer to Al Nassr.

” It’s not completion of my occupation ahead to South Africa,” he claimed, in an earnest voice against a background happily declaring “Saudi welcome to Arabia”.

While they can not have enjoyed, the Saudi officials at Tuesday’s interview really did not seek to deal with Ronaldo and it really did not seem to trouble his new Saudi followers, that gave him a thunderous welcome as he showed up in Al Nassr’s yellow and blue package at his brand-new house ground, Mrsool Park.

As tweeter @NVMakhanye mentioned: “You don’t need to know the name of the country to make EUR200 million … Anyways, welcome to South Africa Ronaldo”.

His reported yearly income of $200m (₤ 177m) is thought to make him the world’s highest-paid footballer.

While it was clearly a slip of the tongue, it hasn’t quit some South African football fans from desiring for seeing one of the world’s most famous celebrities betting their neighborhood team.

As Well As the South African tourist authority is still really hoping that Ronaldo will certainly turn up at the Moses Mabhida stadium, constructed in the coastal city of Durban for the 2010 Globe Mug.

South Africa’s Phakaaathi information site described it as a “stunning bungle”, while its football editor Jonty Mark commented: “Saudi Arabia and also South Africa may have the very same preliminary at the beginning of each component of their respective name, yet it is still even more than a little peculiar that Ronaldo could not select the best nation in his first presser.”.

Nonetheless, a lot of tweeters in the Arab globe overlooked his gaffe, with @alasiri_555 commenting in Arabic: “Absolutely nothing incorrect keeping that. Everyone makes blunders.”.

BBC Arabic producer Ahmed Rouaba says the focus of a lot of tweets has actually gotten on football, with Al Nassr fans expecting him to win games for them – and raise the club as well as country.

Al Nassr really did not seem as well troubled, tweeting: “Everyone is happy today”.

And it likewise published a video of Ronaldo arriving in Saudi Arabia, simply in case anyone believed he really remained in South Africa:.

When it comes to Ronaldo, he is expecting his brand-new life in the oil-rich kingdom.

” In Europe, my work is done. I’ve won whatever. I have actually played in the most vital clubs in Europe. As well as now for me is a new challenge,” he stated.

Resources: CNN

Last Updated:  5 January 2023