Julius OkorieAl-Nassr and Portugal Captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, has restructured his family security structure, following increasing threats from social media.
Ronaldo, who moved to the Saudi side in 2023 from Manchester United, has been enjoying tranquil life in Riyadh with his family, taking pleasure in walks and family outings. However recent distressing messages on social media reportedly directed at the family have forced the need to be cautious.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn fact Ronaldo’s long term partner Georgina Rodriguez, has been forced to reconsider their presence online and limit their children’s exposure on social media platforms.
In response to the development, Ronaldo who has scored 70 goals in 72 appearances for the Saudi side in all competitions, has appointed Security expert Claudio Miguel Vaz as new family chief bodyguard. Vaz brings a wealth of experience from the private security sector, having protected various music artists and, more recently, football players.
His reputation stems from his work in challenging neighborhoods in Portugal, which has contributed to his growing presence on social media.
Although Claudio Miguel Vaz is considered one of the bests in the business, his approach has triggered comparison with that of Lionel Messi’s bodyguard Yassine Cheuko.
Unlike Lionel Messi’s well-known bodyguard Yassine Cheuko, who is known for his calm and professional approach, Vaz is seen as more forceful and has already caused a bit of controversy.
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Some are quick to point to a recent incident during Paris Fashion Week, where Georgina attended an event.
At the occasion a video emerged where Vaz was shining a strong light at photographers, apparently to stop them from taking pictures of Georgina. The clip quickly went viral, with many social media users describing his approach as “too aggressive”.
While Messi’s bodyguard Cheuko is famous for quietly managing crowds and working closely with Messi since their time at Paris Saint-Germain and now at Inter Miami, Vaz’s more direct and bold approach is already raising questions among Ronaldo’s fans and team.
While Vaz may not have as many followers on Instagram as Cheuko, his presence is already being felt and debated both on and off the pitch.
As Ronaldo continues his career with Al Nassr, it remains to be seen whether this new approach to personal security will ease tensions or cause even more unwanted attention.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo has paid tribute to his coach, Aurélio da Silva Pereira, who first discovered his talent following the coach’s death.
Aurélio passed away on Tuesday, April 8 at the age of 77.
He started training and scouting program at Sporting Lisbon in 1988 and helped train and guide many famous Portuguese footballers, including Ronaldo, Luís Figo, Nani and Ricardo Quaresma.
Ronaldo took to his Instagram account and shared a picture of himself with his coach, Aurélio, along with caption that read, “One of the greatest symbols of world training has left us, but his legacy will live on forever
CR7 added, “I will never stop being grateful for everything he did for me and for so many other players. Until forever, Mr. Aurelio, thank you for everything. Rest in peace.”
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
