Has Cristiano Ronaldo converted to Islam? This question has been stirring up fans ever since former Al-Nassr goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah recently told a Saudi TV channel.
“He really wants to convert to Islam”, said the former Saudi international, rekindling the speculation that has been circulating since the famous Portuguese player arrived in Saudi Arabia.
Guest on the Al-Hissa Al-Akhira program, Waleed Abdullah shared several anecdotes about the star’s daily life at the club. He described a Cristiano Ronaldo attentive to the religious practices of his Muslim team-mates, to the point of requesting the interruption of training sessions during the call to prayer. “At first, I spent a lot of time with Cristiano, as he hadn’t yet mastered the local culture,” explained Waleed Abdullah. “He was curious and often asked me questions about various aspects.”
The former goalkeeper went further, claiming that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner had a keen interest in Islam. “We talked about it, and he showed an interest,” he assures us. This interest would translate into symbolic gestures, such as a “prostration” after a goal, which would have aroused the enthusiasm of his teammates. “All the players shouted together ‘Allahu Akbar’,” he recounted.
Although he seems convinced that CR7 may soon convert, Waleed Abdullah was keen to emphasize the star’s professionalism. “Whether he embraces Islam or not, he is an extremely disciplined and committed athlete,” he recalled.
Indeed, Ronaldo has never concealed his respect for Islam. Long before his arrival in Saudi Arabia, there were already rumors of discussions with his former Real Madrid team-mates, such as Mesut Özil and Karim Benzema, about the Muslim religion.
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