Ex-Premier League striker made transfer to play against Cristiano Ronaldo but accidentally signed for wrong club
A former Premier League forward engineered a transfer to play against Cristiano Ronaldo but accidentally signed for the WRONG club.
Thievy Bifouma, formerly of West Brom, thought he was joining a club who were set to play Ronaldo's Al Nassr in the Asian Champions League.
He wanted to move to Iranian outfit Esteghlal FC, who had a scheduled game against Al Nassr.
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But Bifouma, who scored two Premier League goals during his loan spell with the Baggies, unwittingly put pen to paper for the wrong club.
He was not aware that this particular club was not the only side named Esteghlal in Iran.
"I had the chance to play in Turkey, but my wife didn't want to move back there," he told Tasnim News Agency
"I wish to play against Cristiano Ronaldo before I retire."
The 32-year-old added: "Considering that he is now in Asia and there was an opportunity for me to come to Iran, they talked to me about Esteghlal's offer.
"And I reviewed the calendar of games and realised that they have a game against Al-Nassr.
"I said to myself that this is where I wanted to go. I had no idea there were two teams named Esteghlal in Iran."
Bifouma only realised in the days after his transfer that he had made a huge blunder following an exchange with former Chelsea player Gael Kakuta.
"When I arrived in Tehran, my countryman Gael Kakuta called me and asked where I was," he said.
"I told him, 'I'm at the hotel undergoing medical tests'. He then asked, 'Which hotel are you in? I’d like to come and see you'.
"An hour later, he called again and teased me, saying, 'You play for the small Esteghlal, while we’re part of a bigger team. You defend, and we attack'.
"Regardless, it didn't matter because we ended up winning the game against them in August, thanks to my goal."
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Football
Nasir Jabbar