Angry fans ‘storm Al-Nassr team hotel’ after Cristiano Ronaldo forces tour of China to be postponed
ANGRY football supporters stormed Al-Nassr’s team hotel in China after Cristiano Ronaldo was forced to pull out of the club’s tour.
Ronaldo was the star attraction for the Saudi Arabia outfit’s mid-season tour of China.
The team had been training in the city of Shenzhen ahead of scheduled friendlies against Shanghai Shenua and Zhejiang on Wednesday and January 28 respectively.
However, Ronaldo, 38, pulled out of the games after suffering a muscle injury.
Expectant fans who were eagerly anticipating Ronaldo’s appearance were left gutted by the news.
As a result Al-Nassr, announced they would be postponing the games to a future date to allow Ronaldo to participate in the tour later on.
But some fans appeared to not take kindly to the postponement of the games.
Footage on social media claims to show fans storming into a hotel, said to be the Al-Nassr team hotel, to express “disappointment over Cristiano Ronaldo’s inability to participate in the friendly”.
Former Manchester United star Ronaldo issued an apology following his injury.
He said: “As you know, in football some things you cannot control. I have played 22 years in football and I am a player that doesn’t have too many injuries.
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“So I’m really sad because Al Nassr and myself have come to China to enjoy the tour. I have been coming to China since 2003/2004, so I feel at home here – my second home.
“I felt that I am always special here. I feel sad. I know you are sad too, especially the people who love Cristiano, but we have to see this in a good way.
“We have not cancelled the game, we want to push for the game and be back here. We will be back.
“Unfortunately, I have some problems, but this is part of football and my life. I’m here, I’m with the fans, I’m with the Chinese people and we are going to continue here.
“We can see outside the people that are with us.
“We are sad because we knew this could happen. We will be back to make the Chinese people happy, this is my goal.
“I want to play for you. Don’t be sad because I am sad and I hope you understand the circumstances of a football player.”
While the game will no longer take place on the original dates, Al-Nassr confirmed they would complete their training camp “as planned in Shenzhen”.
Al-Nassr sit second in the Saudi Pro League, seven points behind leaders Al-Hilal.
Ronaldo’s injury has also cast doubt on his rematch with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on February 1.