If he gets his wish, President Marcelo will be part of an almost invincible team. The President of People’s Hearts has said he hopes to have national hero Cristiano Ronaldo with him when he visits Spain this month for an audience with the King and Queen alongside the Portuguese community.
“I would like it very much”, he told reporters, adding that he “doesn’t know if it will be possible”.
But if it turns out to be, it would be “very good”, said the head of state, “not just because (Ronaldo) is admired throughout the world, and very admired in Portugal, but because the Spanish have in him an example of what it is to be the best in the world”.
Coming at a time when Spanish justice is still ‘considering’ Ronaldo’s alleged €15 million in Spanish tax evasion, this endorsement from a man credited with saving the Portuguese psyche from years of depression could hardly be more timely.
Marcelo’s hope also comes as Ronaldo basks in renewed world fame for one of the most exceptional ‘bicycle kick goals’ during the Champions League game between Real Madrid and Juventus last Tuesday.
With former French champion Zinedine Zidane calling it “one of the most beautiful goals in history”, Marcelo said it shows the country’s top player has “extraordinary physical capacity” and even at the age of 34 (relatively old for a champion footballer) is still an “unbeatable striker”.
Whether Ronaldo will now be able to help Portugal score the goals its president has lined up for his visit to Madrid between April 15 and 18 is what we all have to wait to find out.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
Photo: taken from Cristiano Ronaldo I King of Football Facebook page
