Indonesia Denies Rumours of Meeting Between Finance Minister and CR7

TheIndonesia.id - The Ministry of Finance in Indonesia has dismissed circulating rumors of a potential meeting between Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo during his upcoming visit to the country.

According to Antara News Agency, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Deni Surjantoro, the head of the ministry's Communication and Information Service Bureau, clarified that the reports suggesting such an event were false. "We hereby clarify that the rumors revolving around a meeting between the Finance Minister and Cristiano Ronaldo are untrue," he stated.

This response came after speculation arose claiming that Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was set to join the Portuguese footballer, famously known as CR7, for a dinner and charity event during his trip to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

Surjantoro emphasized that neither the minister nor the Ministry of Finance had made any arrangements for such a meeting.

Ronaldo, currently playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, is scheduled to visit Kupang on February 19, 2025, for charitable purposes, including a meet-and-greet with local cancer survivors. The event is being organized in collaboration with the Graha Kasih Indonesia Foundation, which aims to assist cancer patients in the region.

Andriko Noto Susanto, acting Governor of NTT, expressed hopes that Ronaldo’s visit would bring hope and inspiration to local children, encouraging them to pursue their dreams. The visit is also expected to increase tourism in the area.

The visit, coordinated by the NTT provincial branch of the All-Indonesia Football Association (PSSI), also includes discussions about football development and regional progress with local government officials.

As part of the itinerary, Ronaldo is expected to meet with Governor Susanto at the governor’s office in Kupang at 10:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday.