Indonesian officials asked Al Nassr club about the possibility of organizing a friendly match between Cristiano Ronaldo’s team in the country of thousands of islands.
Indonesian media simultaneously reported that the Minister of Youth and Sports of this country, Mr. Dito Ariotedjo, visited the Al Nassr club headquarters in Saudi Arabia yesterday (May 1).
Mr. Ariotedjo met with Al Nassr CEO Guido Fienga. Sport Detik newspaper said this meeting may open up an opportunity for Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al Nassr teammates to play a friendly match in Indonesia.
Mr. Dito Ariotedjo said: “We have discussed the possibility of cooperation, such as organizing a friendly match in Indonesia. Al-Nassr has a significant fan base in Indonesia”.
Ronaldo and Al Nassr can go to Indonesia to play a friendly match. (Photo: Getty Images)
Antaranews reported that Mr. Dito Ariotedjo expressed hope that the Saudi Arabian team could send scouts to discover football talents in Indonesia and bring those players to the club.
“I told Mr. Guido Fienga that Indonesia has many talented young players. The achievements of the U23 Indonesia team are proof of that”, Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo affirmed.
Mr. Guido Fienga revealed that in addition to football, Al Nassr Club is focusing on developing Olympic sports, especially badminton.
“Mr. Fienga hopes to receive help to develop badminton because he understands that Indonesia’s badminton performance is excellent,” Mr. Dito Ariotedjo revealed.
Indonesian fans are hoping that after the above visit, Ronaldo will go to the land of thousands of islands to play a friendly match with this country’s team.
To carry out the plan to bring Al Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo to play, host Indonesia will certainly have to spend a large amount of money. Earlier this year, to invite Al Nassr to a friendly match in China, the organizing company had to spend up to 20 million USD.
In June 2023, the Indonesian team played a friendly match with Argentina at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. However, Lionel Messi was absent from this match, making many Indonesian fans disappointed.
The Argentina team under the guidance of coach Lionel Scaloni won 2-0 against Indonesia thanks to goals from Leandro Paredes and Cristian Romero.
The cost to invite the reigning world champion team to Indonesia for a friendly match is rumored to be about 5 million USD (equivalent to over 120 billion VND).
