An Everton fan who met a mega-rich Sheikh on his first day in Qatar has lifted the lid on the incredible meeting with the 'friendly' hosts and their lion cub.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, 23-year-old Alex Sullivan recalled an evening spent driving round in a Lamborghini and enjoying the company of wildlife in the personal zoo of a £460million palace.
Alex and his Dad, Tommy, went viral on social media over the weekend after an interview with TalkSPORT in which they claimed they had run into a member of the Emir of Qatar's family whilst at a supermarket trying to find some beers. The Toffees pair filmed their unusual evening as evidence of what sounds like an unbelievable story.
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After being invited back to the multi-million palace, the father and son from the Wirral jumped into their new friends' Toyota Landcruiser and headed off. Upon arriving at the royal mansion, they drove in a Lamborghini, played FIFA 23 and, incredibly, wrestled with a lion cub.
"We were apprehensive at first getting a lift when we met them," Alex revealed. "But they were incredibly generous and hospitable and we had a great time. They had been asleep most of the day but they took us for a drive in the Lamborghini. I filmed that and also played with a lion cub.
"He had his own personal zoo with the lion cub, various birds of prey and some monkeys. They are obviously very powerful people in business. The palace was worth about two billion Qatari Riyal.
"But they were so down to earth and friendly, we had a really good conversation with them."
Alex's Dad, a retired trucker from the Wirral, had set aside £20,000 for him and his son to spend a month in Qatar to watch the World Cup. The pair were at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday afternoon to see Gareth Southgate's side thump Iran 6-2.
He added: "We met some Iran fans in a bar and they were hugging us and shaking hands. We agreed that we had to buy the drinks if they won, or they buy if we won.
"That is going to be a big round!"
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