RONALDO TARGETED TO PLAY IN HONG KONG

Plan could revolve around Al Nassr returning to Shenzhen to fulfil matches called off in January and FA also makes it clear Messi is not wanted

A plan to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to Hong Kong to play a match early next year is being discussed by city football chiefs.

The idea, at an early stage, involves Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s Saudi club, visiting to play in a fourteam tournament, potentially in January.

Local football association president Pui Kwan-kay confirmed there had been “initial discussions” internally.

In January this year, Ronaldo and Al Nassr were poised to play two exhibition matches in Shenzhen. An injury to the Portuguese forward forced the games to be called off the night before the first was to take place, with ticket-holders refunded.

Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s longtime rival, sparked uproar in Hong Kong days later when he arrived in the city with his US club Inter Miami, only to sit out their exhibition match citing an injury.

Tatler Asia, organiser of the February 4 match, had promised “marquee players” would feature, but Messi and Luis Suarez did not, while Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba played as substitutes. Those who bought tickets, costing up to HK$4,880, were later offered a 50 per cent refund.

Pui said one idea entailed adding a stop-off in Hong Kong should Al Nassr, as mooted, return to Shenzhen to fulfil the fixtures they cancelled. “If Al Nassr are to play exhibition matches in a few cities, the expensive fees could be split,” he said.

Doing so next year could allow any additional matches in Hong Kongtobestagedatthenew50,000seat stadium, under construction at Kai Tak Sports Park.

“I don’t know if Al Nassr are returning to China, but [bringing Ronaldo to Hong Kong] is a good idea because he’s one of the most popular players,” Pui said. “We also need to think about the other teams [to invite]. Kai Tak is opening, so we need some mega events.

“The HKFA could just take the lead [alongside other parties], or be the organisers, but it’s just too early to say. As of now, we’re only at the stage of consideration and discussion.”

Hong Kong has struggled to attract tours from foreign football clubs since Manchester City visited in July 2019, with local football officials balking at the fees commanded by English Premier League clubs and other destinations such as Singapore and Tokyo proving attractive.

The new stadium is due to be completed by the end of this year, but Kai Tak officials and the government have repeatedly declined to respond to questions about how they plan to fill it. An official at Kai Tak said they had no idea about a potential event involving Ronaldo other than “reading about it” in the news.

Pui said inquiries were made previously about bringing Al Nassr to Hong Kong for an exhibition match in September or October, but the matter went no further because of the team’s schedule and the ongoing construction of Kai Tak.

As tends to be the case for the traditional Lunar New Year Cup, it would be difficult to include English Premier League teams during their season, but “eastern European and Portuguese Primeira Liga teams” could be considered, Pui said.

One team not on Pui’s wish list are Inter Miami, appearing to rule out the prospect of Ronaldo playing against Messi in Hong Kong. “Personally, it’s not appropriate to ask for Messi at this moment,” Pui said. “Messi and his team will not be given any priority.”

The Post also contacted Eric Fok Kai-shan, the football association’s chairman, whose office said they were “checking and will get back later”. Ken Ng Kin, president of domestic champions Kitchee, said of the Ronaldo idea: “There is no evidence in the market to suggest that this is anything other than just gossip.”

If Al Nassr are to play exhibition matches in a few cities, the expensive fees could be split PUI KWAN-KAY, LOCAL F.A. PRESIDENT