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Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones explained to Rodri that hippos are more dangerous than crocodiles.
- Training ground discussion
- Big topics being covered
- Rodri more fearful of crocodiles
WHAT HAPPENED? In a clip shared on the club’s Twitter feed, the City players were discussing which animal they would prefer to swim with. Stones, Haaland and Co. then had to convince Rodri just how dangerous a hippo can be both in water and on land. With a look of disbelief on his face, the Spaniard said: “Wait, what?”
Before De Bruyne weighed in, saying: “A hippo is the most dangerous animal in the world. You think it’s a teddy bear?”
THE BIGGER PICTURE: The players are certainly not wrong with hippos known to kill more people annually than lions, crocodiles and snakes. Of course, if Pep Guardiola’s men are to taste Premier League success at the end of the season, they’ll have to be pretty ruthless too. Indeed, Haaland recently admitted to the press that City have to “hunt” Arsenal down.
WHAT NEXT FOR CITY? They are currently five points behind the Gunners but can potentially close that gap if they can get a positive result away from home at Manchester United this weekend. Before, then, however, they travel to Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Al-Nassr deny Cristiano Ronaldo contract includes commitment to support Saudi Arabia’s 2030 World Cup bid
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Al-Nassr published a statement Tuesday night denying reports that they made Cristiano Ronaldo promise to back a 2030 World Cup bid in his contract.
- Reports suggested €200m clause to support bid
- But club say no commitment exists
- Saudi Arabia expected to push hard for World Cup
WHAT HAPPENED? Al-Nassr refuted talk that Ronaldo had been paid an extra €200 million ($214m/£177m) to serve as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s 2030 World Cup bid.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: CR7 is believed to be the world’s highest-salaried athlete of all-time with his new Al-Nassr contract, which materialised after he left Manchester United. He is yet to make his debut for the Saudi Arabian side, but watched on as they beat Al-Tai recently.
WHAT THEY SAID?: “Al-Nassr FC would like to clarify that contrary to news reports, Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al-Nassr does not entail commitments to any World Cup bids,” wrote the club. “His main focus is on Al-Nassr and to work with his teammates to help the club achieve success.”
IN TWO PHOTOS:
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WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO? The veteran attacker could participate in Al-Nassr’s upcoming exhibition against Paris Saint-Germain on January 19. That game could see him face off against old foe Lionel Messi.
