‘It was a disastrous experience’ — Ex-Liverpool star recalls visit to Ronaldo’s juju man

Former Liverpool and Inter midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has opened up about one of the strangest moments of his career, revealing he was once sent to a shaman, or “juju man” as it’s known in Nigerian parlance, for treatment.

The Swiss international admitted the visit, said to be recommended because Brazilian legend Ronaldo had used the same healer, ended up being a complete failure.

The episode took place during Shaqiri’s spell at Inter Milan, when injuries had begun to slow down his progress.

In a recent interview, the midfielder was asked if he had ever been told to see a “special” doctor. He answered, saying, “A shaman, not just a doctor. They told me to go to this guy who supposedly worked miracles and had also treated Ronaldo. Mancini also told me to do it.”

What was supposed to be a miracle cure turned into a complete waste of time. “It was a disastrous experience. I drove an hour and a half to see him, but it didn’t help at all,” Shaqiri admitted.

Shaqiri’s struggles with injuries were not limited to his time in Italy. At Liverpool, he endured a stop-start career that left him frustrated on the sidelines.

“It's normal if you are injured or you cannot help the team that you are frustrated,” he once said during his Anfield days.

The Swiss star missed a total of 364 days across three years due to persistent knocks, limiting his game time and impact.

For a player of such explosive talent, the repeated interruptions left his career trajectory permanently altered.