"We hereby clarify that the rumors revolving around a meeting between the Finance Minister and Cristiano Ronaldo are false," Head of the ministry's Communication and Information Service Bureau Deni Surjantoro said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He issued the statement in response to a report suggesting that the Indonesian state treasurer plans to join Ronaldo, popularly known as CR7, at a dinner and a charity event during the Portuguese national's visit to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.
Surjantoro stressed that neither Minister Indrawati nor her institution has arranged or planned such an agenda.
Ronaldo, a former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, is reportedly scheduled to visit NTT for social and charity purposes, including participating in a meet and greet with local cancer survivors, on Wednesday (February 19, 2025).
"He is set to aid cancer survivors in Kupang in the company of the Graha Kasih Indonesia Foundation," acting Governor of NTT Andriko Noto Susanto informed at his office in Kupang on Monday.
The athlete, who currently plays for Al-Nassr in the top-tier league of Saudi Arabia, is said to be planning to fly to NTT on his private jet after landing in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Susanto expressed the hope that during his visit, CR7 would bring optimism to local children and inspire them to follow in his footsteps.
He added that the footballer's visit is also expected to trigger a rise in the tourist count in Kupang and NTT.
The NTT provincial association of the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) has sent a letter to the provincial government, informing it about the planned visit of the all-time top scorer of the Portuguese national team.
The Graha Kasih Foundation intends to bring the former Juventus player to meet with acting governor Susanto to discuss matters related to football and NTT's development, according to the letter.
As per the plan, the meeting will take place at the governor's office in Kupang city at 10:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
Related news: Cristiano Ronaldo to visit Indonesia's NTT Province tomorrow
Translator: Imamatul S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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