Watch: Fans arrive in numbers to get glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr in Iran

Cristiano Ronaldo, the captain of Al-Nassr, was greeted with open arms in Iran. This marked the primary time a Saudi crew had set foot in Iran since 2016, a big occasion that passed off simply earlier than the graduation of the Asian Champions League’s group stage.

Al-Nassr is scheduled to compete in opposition to Persepolis, an Iranian crew, in Group E on Tuesday.

The arrival of the Saudi Arabian crew, led by Ronaldo, sparked a wave of pleasure amongst Iranian followers. The streets had been stuffed with enthusiastic supporters, proudly displaying banners and photos of Ronaldo, celebrating the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has introduced that future matches between Saudi and Iranian groups will likely be carried out on a home-and-away foundation, following an settlement between the 2 native federations.

This marks a big shift from the earlier association, the place matches had been held on impartial grounds attributable to strained diplomatic relations that prohibited Saudi nationals from touring to Iran since 2016.

Despite safety measures, fervent supporters managed to infiltrate the crew’s lodge, chanting Ronaldo’s identify and waving photos of the Portuguese captain. Al-Nassr posted pictures and movies of the followers chasing the crew bus on the streets to get a glimpse of the Portuguese celebrity.

The enthusiasm was palpable amongst all age teams, with even youngsters and girls taking part within the celebrations. Al-Nassr’s social media platforms had been flooded with pictures of Ronaldo receiving a lavish, hand-woven Iranian carpet, a present from the Persepolis supporters.

Published On:

Sep 18, 2023