Bridgnorth barber Cal Newsome recently received a request that took him from his shop in Shropshire, England, to the Irish national team’s hotel: a haircut for football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Newsome, who regularly styles the hair of Premier league players, received a direct invitation from Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot during the recent international break [[3]]. The unexpected appointment offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the world’s most famous footballers, and a candid conversation far removed from the pitch.
Jakarta –
Cal Newsome typically cuts the hair of Premier League footballers. He was thrilled when he got the chance to style Cristiano Ronaldo’s hair.
Newsome owns Bull & Co Barbershop in Bridgnorth, and his work with Premier League players began in 2019 through connections with several Wolverhampton Wanderers players.
The club boasted a strong Portuguese contingent at the time, which led to an introduction to Diogo Dalot of Manchester United, and that’s where it all started.
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Dalot recently texted Newsome during the international break, inviting him to Ireland for a haircut with Ronaldo.
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Cal Newsome alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo: dok. BBC
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“I’ve built a pretty good relationship with a lot of the players, especially Dalot. He knew… how much I love Ronaldo,” Newsome told the BBC.
Portugal was in Ireland on Friday, November 14, 2026, for a 2026 World Cup qualifying match, which they lost 0-2.
“I canceled all my plans, then went over there, went to the hotel and cut their hair, and then I stayed at the hotel and flew back the next day,” Newsome explained.
Newsome described Ronaldo as a remarkably down-to-earth individual, and the two were able to have a relaxed conversation.
“Honestly, we talked about everything other than football… I didn’t even mention I was a Manchester United fan… they don’t like talking about football all the time,” he said.
“When they’re getting their hair cut, it’s almost like a safe space away from football.”
“We just talked about family life, he asked about my family, we talked a lot about his life in Saudi and how different the culture is there compared to Europe,” Newsome added.
(ran/krs)
