In a tale of mistaken identity, former LaLiga striker Thievy Bifouma has revealed that he signed for the wrong club in the hope of facing off against Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Iranian club Esteghlal Khuzestan, joined the team this summer under the assumption that he would be facing the Portuguese legend in the AFC Champions League. Unbeknownst to him, there are two clubs named Esteghlal in the Iranian Persian Gulf Pro League, and he had inadvertently signed with the wrong one.
Bifouma’s ambition to play against Ronaldo was rooted in his desire to face the five-time Ballon d’Or winner before retiring from the sport. He had considered moving to Turkey but was dissuaded by his wife, and instead, he chose to join Esteghlal, hoping to capitalize on their match against Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s current club. However, his plan was foiled when he realized that he had signed with the wrong team.
“I had no idea there were two teams named Esteghlal in Iran,” Bifouma confessed in an interview with Tasnim News Agency. Despite the setback, he remained resolute in his pursuit of playing against Ronaldo, stating, “I wish to play against Cristiano Ronaldo before I retire.” His fixation on the footballing icon is understandable, given his impressive record on the pitch, but the former LaLiga striker’s naivety has left many wondering about his thought process.
The encounter between Esteghlal and Al-Nassr took place on October 22, with the Saudi Arabian club emerging victorious with a 1-0 scoreline. While Ronaldo failed to find the back of the net, Bifouma was left to reflect on his misstep, grasping the reality that his dream of facing the footballing legend was short-lived.
In the wake of this revelation, Ronaldo’s impending return to the pitch has sparked excitement among fans and pundits alike. The 39-year-old, who has been in scintillating form in the Saudi Pro League, is expected to feature in Al-Nassr’s league clash with Al-Ittihad on December 6. The prospect of witnessing Ronaldo in action is tantalizing, but for Bifouma, the dream of facing the footballing icon has turned into a cautionary tale of mistaken identity and misplaced ambition.
