Cristiano Ronaldo reignites football frenzy in China

BEIJING: The arrival of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has added more heat to a steamy Beijing summer after the 2018 Russia World Cup sparked football mania nationwide.

From the airport to Nike stores, from the hotel to the Palace Museum, wherever Ronaldo went, he was cheered by fans coming from all around the country, just to take a look at their football idol.

Xinhua news agency reported that apart from signing jerseys and taking selfies with his dedicated fans, the decorated star offered more to the footballloving country.

In an interview, Ronaldo provided suggestions for Chinese football: “Give opportunities to the kids, give them good possibilities, good pitches, open doors for them because the kids are the future.”

The five-time UEFA Champions League winner had contributed his share to the development of Chinese football as he donated a pitch to a primary school in Longxi County, Gansu Province in his first visit to China last year.

With the pitch completed in May, more kids can taste the joy brought by football.

“Keep going, work hard, believe in yourself and never give up,” was the advice that the Euro 2016 champion gave to the young players in China, and also expressed a wish to see a Chinese player like him or even better than him.

Ronaldo also talked about his own future at Italian Serie A powerhouse Juventus.

“I’m so happy. It’s one of the most important clubs in Italy. It’s great for me to have the opportunity to play there,” he said.

“I hope to start well. I hope to win important things for the club, for me and for my teammates. I will try to make the Italian fans happy. This is what I am looking for,” he added.

After winning two La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League trophies in nine years at Real Madrid, Ronaldo secured a blockbuster transfer to Juventus on a fouryear contract worth 100 million euros. — Bernama