Al Nassr are at the moment the undisputed leaders within the Saudi Professional League, having received all 5 of their matches to this point. Inside that context, the group is now shifting its focus to the AFC Champions League Two, the place they may face Goa this Wednesday in India. Head coach Jorge Jesus addressed Cristiano Ronaldo’s availability for that match.
“For matches exterior Saudi Arabia, we determined to relaxation Ronaldo,” Jesus introduced throughout a press convention this week, in response to Purpose. “We’ve got to make selections and we’ve determined to go away him in Riyadh to arrange for the upcoming matches… We have to protect his health.”
The Portuguese coach justified his resolution by pointing to the necessity to relaxation Cristiano, who, at 40 years outdated, stays a key participant for each his membership and the Portugal nationwide group. However he additionally talked about one other issue—the eye the ahead attracts wherever he goes.
“Everybody admires Ronaldo, he has a large fanbase… We all know that in Iraq, India many individuals wish to see him and take footage with him,” Jorge Jesus acknowledged on the identical press convention. The coach made it clear that he understands this resolution shall be met with disappointment from followers, however his precedence is doing what’s greatest for the group.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr FC.
Ronaldo nonetheless absent from AFC Champions League Two
Jorge Jesus’ reasoning—that avoiding worldwide journey and intense fan interactions helps handle Ronaldo’s workload—is sensible, nevertheless it doesn’t totally clarify the entire coach’s selections this season.
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Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus units clear season objectives for Cristiano Ronaldo amid AFC Champions League Two absence
Al Nassr failed final season to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top-tier membership event, and needed to accept the second-tier competitors as an alternative—roughly equal to the UEFA Europa League. On condition that context, the membership’s main focus this season is on the Saudi Professional League relatively than continental play.
That’s mirrored in how Cristiano Ronaldo’s minutes have been distributed throughout the 2025–26 marketing campaign. Whereas he has performed all 5 full matches within the Saudi league, he hasn’t been included within the squad for any AFC Champions League Two video games.
He didn’t journey to Iraq for the sport in opposition to Al-Zawraa SC, he received’t make the journey to India to face Goa, and he additionally didn’t play at house in opposition to Istiqlol. This appears to point a transparent technique for CR7 to pay attention his efforts on the Saudi Professional League and, not less than for now, keep out of the Champions League Two motion.
What’s subsequent for Cristiano Ronaldo?
After a 5–1 win over Al Fateh final Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Wednesday’s conflict in opposition to Goa within the AFC Champions League II and revel in a full week of relaxation earlier than Al Nassr’s subsequent fixture—an away match in opposition to Al Hazm on Saturday.
Nevertheless, after that Saudi Professional League match, Jorge Jesus’ group will face a harder check in a unique competitors: on Tuesday, October 28, Al Nassr will play their second match within the King Cup of Champions. They opened the event with a 4–0 win over Jeddah, however now face a Spherical of 16 conflict in opposition to Al Ittihad.
