Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong: Ronaldo’s Labubu grabs attention as 2 more teams arrive
Al-Ittihad, Al-Qadsiah head to city after Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are forced to hold first training session in heavy rain
Two further Saudi Super Cup teams arrived in Hong Kong on Friday, while Cristiano Ronaldo carried a Labubu doll and welcomed a new teammate, as the city stepped up preparations to stage the competition next week.
Ronaldo and his fellow Al-Nassr players sparked excitement for a second successive day when they emerged from the Regent Hong Kong hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on Friday morning. Having been ushered quickly inside on arrival the previous day, the Portugal captain this time stopped to sign autographs.
Shortly afterwards, as he boarded the team bus, he was photographed holding a Labubu, from the line of toys created by Hong Kong-born illustrator Kasing Lung and produced by Chinese firm Pop Mart. Thought to be a welcome gift, images of him with the toy were shared widely on Chinese social media.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo had drawn a crowd when he and the Al-Nassr players and staff landed on Thursday, after word spread of their arrival, and an even bigger pack of fans were camped outside the hotel by the time they headed out to training.
Their session took place in heavy rain in Kowloon Tong, as Hong Kong continued to endure stormy weather after Tropical Storm Podul lashed the region.