A former Arsenal footballer who “grew up with Cristiano Ronaldo” is allegedly fighting with the Syrian rebels against Bashar al-Assad.
The man, who is said to have rejected a life of money and fame in Europe, was filmed in two videos posted on a jihadi website in which he addresses Muslims from around the world to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
He is depicted wearing a black mask covering most of his face, holding what appears to be an AK-47 as he talks to the audience in a heavily accented English.
The text around the video on the site, claims that the man ‘”grew up with Ronaldo, played for Arsenal and left football, money and European way of life in order to make the path of Allah”. It also says he was originally from Portugal and turned to Islam two years ago.
During the first of two four-minute posts, he is introduced in the English subtitles as “Abu Issa Andaluzi” from Sham.
He then goes on to say: “My advice to you is that we are in need of all types of help from those who can help us in fighting the enemy.
“Welcome, come and join us and from those who think that they cannot fight they should also come and join us because it maybe that they can help us in something else, for example help with medicine, help us financially, help us with with advice, help with any other qualities they may have and any other skills they might have, and they can give and pass on this knowledge, and we can take whatever is beneficial and that way they will participate in jihad.”
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Arsenal FC are currently investigating the claims that the man is a former player at the club but a spokesman told the national press: “We do not recognise the individual from the published clips and we don’t have any record of a (person of this name) representing the club at any level.”
