Al-Nassr supporters have taken to social media to voice their disappointment after Cristiano Ronaldo was named on the bench for the team’s clash against Al-Riyadh. The 41-year-old forward recently rejoined the squad following a delayed return to pre-season training, during which he celebrated his wedding to Georgina Rodriguez. Consequently, he missed the side’s opening two fixtures of the campaign: the Saudi Pro League match against Al Fateh and the King’s Cup encounter with Diriyah.
Manager Ange Postecoglou’s decision to keep the Portuguese star among the substitutes is viewed as a precautionary measure. The team is currently navigating a demanding schedule, having already played two matches this season with a third game arriving within a six-day span. Ronaldo returned to training just two days before the season opener, necessitating careful management of his workload.
The starting XI for the match features Bento in goal, with a defensive line comprising full-backs Salem Al-Najdi and Nawaf Boushal alongside center-backs Inigo Martinez and Abdulelah Al-Amri. Abdullah Al-Khaibari anchors the midfield, supported by Joao Felix and Angelo Gabriel. The attacking threat is led by wingers Sadio Mane and Kingsley Coman, with Abdullah Al-Hamdan serving as the central striker.
Fan reaction on X has been mixed, with many expressing concern over how many matches the veteran might miss this term. Supporters eager to see the forward reach his 1,000-goal milestone voiced their frustration, while others suggested they would be satisfied if he simply made a 30-minute cameo appearance. One fan humorously remarked, “Guess I’ll have an afternoon nap,” reflecting the sentiment of those disappointed by his absence from the starting lineup.
Ahead of the fixture, Al-Riyadh manager Maurício Dulac addressed the prospect of facing the legendary striker. During a pre-match press conference, the Brazilian coach spoke highly of the veteran, stating that it would be an honor for his team to compete against the 41-year-old star. The report also notes that fans have taken to X to react to his omission from the starting eleven. The report also notes that a second fan echoed the previous sentiment as they want Cristiano Ronaldo to reach the 1000 goal landmark. The report also notes that a third fan claimed they’d be happy if Ronaldo featured for 30 minutes. The report also notes that some of the other reactions are as follows. The report also notes that as the veteran Portugal star returned from vacation just 2 days before their first game of the season, postecoglou’s decision to bench Ronaldo is understandable.
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