Saudi Arabia expected to see increased rainfall next week, says NCM    Ministry of Hajj and Umrah honors "Mutawifs of Arab Countries" with 5 awards and recognitions at Hajj Services Conference & Exhibition    Saudi health minister concludes official visit to Sweden to expand cooperation    Saudi Arabia to open Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah on December 6    Ukraine's president receives draft peace plan from US    UN atomic agency votes to urge Iran to provide information about nuclear material    Israel's forced expulsion of Palestinians from refugee camps amounts to war crimes: HRW    Israeli settlers torch scrapyard in West Bank arson attack    3 expats arrested for selling counterfeit smartphones    Mexico's Fatima Bosch, who walked out on organisers, crowned Miss Universe    Philippines rallies behind Ahtisa Manalo ahead of Miss Universe finale    Saudi Aramco announces 17 deals worth over $30 billion with U.S. firms at Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum    Rikaz partners with PLP Architecture to launch a luxury tower combining premium hospitality and high-end residential living in Al Khobar    Saudi Defense Ministry signs eight MoUs with US companies    stc group partners with ROSHN Group to develop a neutral-host infrastructure for SEDRA communities    Daniel Radcliffe wrote supportive letter to new Potter cast    UK to ban reselling event tickets for profit    From accidental athlete to Olympian: Rakan Alireza's unlikely road to the Winter Games    Riyadh Season 2025 draws 1 million visitors in 13 days    Athar Festival 2025 opens in Riyadh with record attendance, new creative streams, and Saudi-first innovations    The key to happiness    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Ronaldo opens up on Messi, family life in new film
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 11 - 11 - 2015

Cristiano Ronaldo has no regrets after making an intimate documentary about his life and career, he told a press conference in London to mark the film's launch Monday.
Made by the team behind award-winning films about Ayrton Senna and Amy Winehouse, ‘Ronaldo' charts Ronaldo's life between Real Madrid's European Cup triumph in 2014 and his third Ballon d'Or crown in January 2015.
The film's revelations include a confession by Ronaldo's mother, Dolores, that she wanted to abort him, while Ronaldo talks openly about his brother and late father's struggles with alcoholism.
He also defends his decision not to disclose the identity of his son Cristiano's mother, but when asked if he felt he had opened up too much, the Madrid superstar replied: "Maybe, but I just had fun.
"I don't regret anything. I feel unbelievable. When you do something people will find reason to criticize you, but it's normal."
The film captures intimate moments at home between Ronaldo and his five-year-old son — who he dubs "my successor" — and shows him relaxing with friends including his agent, Jorge Mendes.
The Portugal captain, 30, discusses his obsession with winning the Ballon d'Or, which he has won for the past two seasons after seeing his great Barcelona rival Lionel Messi walk away with it for the previous four years.
"I've started seeing him as a person, not a rival," Ronaldo says of the Argentine. "But we are always busting our balls to see who is better."
On speculation about the identity of his son's mother, Ronaldo, who describes himself in the film as an "isolated person" with few friends in football, says: "I've never told anybody and I never will."
Asked at the press conference why the film does not feature Irina Shayk, the Russian model who he split from last January, Ronaldo said it was because the filmmakers "didn't see a strong part to put in the movie."
He also refused to be drawn on the crisis surrounding suspended FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who is pictured in the film during scenes shot at various Ballon d'Or galas.
"When Cristiano says something it's a huge thing. I'm not going to be involved in these problems," Ronaldo said. "What do you expect me to say?"
Ronaldo said he had no desire to move into a career in football administration, particularly the role of president of governing body FIFA. "I'm not that smart to be president. I do not worry about that or about what is going to happen in my future," Ronaldo said.
The film also reveals that a promise by former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson that Ronaldo would play in 50 percent of the club's games prompted him to move to Old Trafford in 2003.
Mendes says that Ferguson's offer was key in encouraging the winger, then an 18-year-old rising star at Sporting Lisbon, to reject rival offers from clubs including Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Speaking Monday, Ronaldo said: "When Sir Alex Ferguson says, ‘Cristiano, I want you to come to Manchester United, you're going to play 50 percent of the games,' it made me feel comfortable and I said, ‘Wow.'
"Because 18 years old, to play 50 percent of the games, for me it's unbelievable. Jorge helped me to take that decision and of course the last word of Sir Alex Ferguson was the key to sign for Manchester United."
A tuxedo-clad Ronaldo was greeted by hundreds of fans when he arrived with his mother and son for the film's official premiere at a London cinema Monday.
Ronaldo was reunited with Ferguson on the red carpet and hugged the Scot in a warm embrace. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, who both managed Ronaldo at Madrid, and former United team-mates Gary Neville and Louis Saha were among a celebrity-packed audience.
Ronaldo was presented with an award for being the "most liked person on Facebook in the world," while he also attempted to set a record for the most selfies taken in three minutes as he snapped photos with eager fans.
"I'm proud and excited to show off this movie," Ronaldo said. "I did this for the fans, this film is for them." — Agencies


Clic here to read the story from its source.