Sharahili: Cristiano Ronaldo fasted for two days during Ramadan and adapted to the atmosphere
Former Al-Nassr player Shaye Sharahili revealed fascinating details about how Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, the team's captain, has integrated into Islamic culture and Saudi customs during the holy month of Ramadan. These statements shed light on the human and social aspects of the "Madeira Rocket's" life since his move to the Saudi Professional League.
Ronaldo's experience with fasting
Speaking on the Thamaniyah platform, Sharahili confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo actually fasted during Ramadan last year. Sharahili said, "Cristiano Ronaldo fasted for two days last year, an experience that underscores his great respect for the environment in which he lives and his desire to understand the feelings of his Muslim colleagues.".
The former player explained that the beginning is usually difficult for players who are not used to fasting, adding: “It is certainly difficult for a professional football player at the beginning, given the body’s need for fluids and energy, but the human body has an amazing ability to adapt, and after about seven days the body gets used to the new system.”.
The impact of match timing during Ramadan on professional players
Sharahili addressed a crucial technical and physical challenge facing foreign players in the Saudi league: the difference in their biological clocks. He pointed out that "foreign players are more affected than others by the different match times in the Saudi league during Ramadan.".
He explained, “The players have to wait until 10 pm to play matches, which is late compared to the usual European times, and this directly affects their sleep and muscle recovery, and requires them to take time to adapt to staying up late and playing after breakfast.”.
Cultural integration of world stars in Saudi Arabia
These statements come within a broader context reflecting the success of the Saudi League project in attracting global stars, not only for sporting reasons but also for cultural ones. Ronaldo has appeared on numerous occasions wearing Saudi attire, performing the traditional Saudi sword dance, and exchanging greetings in Arabic during holidays, which reinforces his status as a beloved figure among Saudi and Arab fans and encourages other international players to engage with the local community.
Al-Nassr's preparations for the Al-Hazm match
On the technical and field front, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead his team's training sessions in preparation for the upcoming match. Al-Nassr is set to face Al-Hazm tomorrow (Saturday) in the 23rd round of the Saudi Professional League.
Al-Nasr enters the match in third place in the league standings with 52 points, collected from a strong run that included 17 wins and one draw, compared to three losses, as the team seeks to reduce the gap with the leader and compete strongly for the title until the final rounds.
