Portugal and Turkey go head-to-head in the World Cup play-off semi-final, but it’s also a reunion between Atalanta defender Merih Demiral and his former Juventus teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
The winners of this game will go on to face either Italy or North Macedonia in the final for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Demiral became very good friends with Ronaldo at Juventus, confirming they still keep in contact via WhatsApp, as the Turkey international told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I consider him one of the most special people I have ever met.”
Demiral left for Atalanta in August 2021 and Cristiano Ronaldo even visited the defender’s home in Turin to see him off ahead of the transfer.
They crossed paths again earlier this season in the Champions League, when CR7 made the difference for Manchester United against Atalanta, both home and away.
A place in the World Cup play-off final is at stake now and Demiral will have to mark his friend out of the game.
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Dalot, Danilo Pereira, Fonte, Guerreiro; Bruno Fernandes, Moutinho, Bernardo Silva; Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota, Otavio
Turkey: Cakir; Kabak, Demiral, Soyuncu, Kutlu; Celik, Kokcu, Calhanoglu, Akturkoglu; Burak Yilma, Cengiz Under