Cristiano Ronaldo's football substances have raised him for insurmountable fame, and with such a fame there is an extra security risk, as detailed by a former bodyguard
The former bodyguard of Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that people and fans would 'threaten' the Portuguese superstar, although his life was never in danger. Ronaldo was founded in Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson and got up to become one of the best in European football and won his first of five balloons d'Or in 2008 as a Red Devil.
A four-fold Champions League-winning spell with Real Madrid followed, before a Stint with Juventus, a short return to Old Trafford and an awkward exit to the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr. During his illustrious career for Club and Country, in which he has collected more than 900 goals and has won countless awards, the fame of the superstar has crossed football.
Ronaldo is one of the most recognizable sports stars, if not celebrities, in the world, but such a popularity entails a considerable part of the risk. On Wednesday, for example, a fan avoided the security before the Portugal match against Germany and the field invaded, his hands came in around the 40-year-old before he was led away by security.
The Al Nassr attacker has therefore often sought the help of a bodyguard, and Hichman, who served him for four years, has given insight into the kind of threats with which he would like to deal with and how much he would be paid.
“Our work depends on the profile of the client. In the case of Cristiano, with whom I worked for four years, his profile was not a risk because people did not want to kill him and he received no death threats,” Hichman told Telecinco. “He was threatened by fans or people who wanted to rob him.”
The 36-year-old Hichman continued with the detail of the strategies he would use to keep Ronaldo, his partner Georgina Rodriguez and their children safe.
“We always have to know where we are going, who will be there, and have clear access and exit points, as well as contact points,” he continued. “We must always be aware that our lives can be in danger. We must be willing to protect a person, and sometimes we have to give our lives to protect them.
“If I have to use weapons, I will use them. The most important thing is to think quickly, solve problems and stay calm in difficult situations.”
Hichman lovingly looks back on his time that the sniper serves and claims that he would earn around £ 850 a day with safety for Ronaldo, with whom he has a positive relationship, even though he no longer works for him.
“He is the best boss I've ever had,” said Hichman. “We have a good relationship. Working with him was not like working with someone threatened with death or kidnapping. We had some foolish incidents with paparazzi or crazy fans, but nothing important.”
Apart from making life difficult for photographers and trying to keep Ronaldo's family out of the public eye as much as possible, Hichman revealed that he never had to deal with serious threats for the 40-year-old.
There have been many cases of fans on the field, as took place during Portugal's Nations League collision this week, to try to get a close-up glimpse of Ronaldo or try to make a selfie with him.
Nevertheless, Marca reported in April that Ronaldo had sustained safety efforts after threats had been made against his family on social media, reportedly from a group in Saudi Arabia, where he currently lives.