News

Francis Ngannou during an interview with TNT Sports revealed how he met with five time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time.

 

Ngannou and Ronaldo have become very close friends since they met for the first time earlier this year. Few days ago, Ronaldo sent a Jacob&Co watch worth over $117,000 to Francis Ngannou ahead of his fight against Tyson Fury on October 28th.

 

Interviewed by TNT Sports, Ngannou revealed how he was stunned after he discovered Cristiano Ronaldo knew about him

 

“We were sitting at the Four Seasons Hotel, which is where [Ronaldo] was living at the time,” he told TNT Sports. “We met one of his guys named Richie. [He said:] ‘Actually, Cristiano is a big fan of Francis.’ Then he called Cristiano and he said: ‘Bring them up’ and they were in the pool and I’m like, even when I was going up: ‘I hope this guy is not messing with me’.

“Then we get up there and saw Cristiano and he was basically waiting on us and I was quite surprised. It’s Cristiano, right? We shake hands, we greet each other, like: ‘Hey, what’s up’ and he was very cool, very familiar at the same time.”

He added: “He was telling me stuff about me and how him and his family, they watch my fight at 4am. I’m like, man, you don’t know who really watches you. I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t know me! But he knows me pretty good.”

“We were next to the pool there for like 30 minutes or 40 minutes talking about stuff and he was giving me advice, telling me what to do, telling me about Saudi, the reason why he moved to Saudi,” he said.

Ngannou and Ronaldo finished their meet by taking a series of photographs together; something which, again, seemed like a dream to the 37-year-old.

 

“We find a place with shade to take pictures and he was like trying like fight pose, be serious, face to face and then start laughing and holding me, hugging me.

“I hope people will believe that this is true,” he said.

 

Watch video of interview below

 

Ngannou will be facing Tyson Fury on Saturday, October 28th in what will be one of the biggest fights of his career.