Breaking: Ronaldo will remain sidelined for Al Nassr’s third consecutive match

Cristiano Ronaldo is still unable to return to the pitch for Al Nassr despite reaching an agreement to end his brief "strike" period in the Saudi Pro League.

This was confirmed by coach Jorge Jesus ahead of the AFC Champions League Two match between Al Nassr and FK Arkadag, extinguishing hopes of an early comeback for the Portuguese superstar.

Earlier, Ronaldo missed two consecutive matches for Al Nassr amid tensions related to the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). However, all issues were reportedly resolved when the 39-year-old forward agreed to return to training and be ready to play. This led fans to believe he would feature in the away game against the Turkmenistan team.

Nevertheless, at the pre-match press conference, Jorge Jesus made a notable decision. The Portuguese coach stated that Ronaldo would not be included in the match squad. He explained this was purely a strategic choice to preserve the fitness of key players amid a congested schedule.

“We decided to rest Cristiano Ronaldo and the starters due to the heavy match schedule and the important upcoming game against Al Fateh,” Jorge Jesus emphasized. He also mentioned that Ronaldo’s absence from matches outside Saudi Arabia is not unusual, as it has happened before.

Not only Ronaldo, but Al Nassr also rested several other stars including Marcelo Brozović, Iñigo Martínez, João Félix, Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mané, and Mohamed Simakan. Clearly, the Riyadh club is focusing all efforts on competing for the Saudi Pro League title.

Currently, Al Nassr is second in the standings with 49 points, just one point behind league leaders Al Hilal. The title race is extremely tight, and any slip-up could change the dynamics. Therefore, resting Ronaldo is seen as a sensible move since he remains the main driving force in attack.

Unless there is a last-minute change, Cristiano Ronaldo will make his comeback against Al Fateh this weekend. This will be his first appearance in 15 days since the match against Al Kholood in January. CR7’s return is anticipated to provide a significant morale boost for Al Nassr during this crucial stage of the season.

By prioritizing domestic competitions, Al Nassr demonstrates a clear ambition to dethrone Al Hilal and claim the Saudi Pro League crown. For Ronaldo, all eyes are on his explosive return, as he has repeatedly proven his worth in critical moments.