Waleed Abdullah, ex-goalkeeper of Saudi club Al-Nassr, has sparked headlines by revealing Cristiano Ronaldo's possible interest in converting to Islam and his growing connection with Saudi culture.  

During an appearance on an Arab TV show, Abdullah addressed persistent rumors, stating that Ronaldo has shown interest in embracing Islam, influenced by his deepening bond with local traditions and practices.

“Ronaldo genuinely wants to convert to Islam. I spoke to him about it, and he expressed interest,” Abdullah said. “He has already prostrated on the field after scoring, and he always encourages the players to pray and follow Islamic religious practices.”

In order to build relationships with his Muslim teammates, Ronaldo has shown a great deal of interest in learning about Islamic customs, according to the former goalie. He also makes sure that his teammates have time to pray in between practices.

“When the call to prayer sounds during training, Ronaldo asks the coach to pause the session until it's finished,” he added, underlining the footballer’s sensitivity to local religious customs.

Abdullah revealed that when Ronaldo first arrived in Saudi Arabia, he was keen to learn about the country’s culture.

“In the beginning, I was close to Cristiano because he wasn’t familiar with the country’s culture, the club, or other aspects. He was curious and often asked me questions about certain details,” he said.

The former goalkeeper also mentioned previous attempts by Ronaldo’s former teammates at Real Madrid, including Mesut Özil and Karim Benzema, to encourage him to consider converting to Islam.

A particularly striking moment, he noted, occurred when Ronaldo prostrated after scoring, prompting all the players to shout "Allahu Akbar" in unison.

In spite of the rumours that Ronaldo would convert, Abdullah praised the player's professionalism and determination, stating that his extraordinary discipline and dedication are what have led him to this position.

Abdullah also commended Ronaldo's humility, saying that the football player and his son were kind and straightforward in their dealings with people, which made them even more popular in Saudi Arabia.

Source: Tribune