Overview
- Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of Al‑Nassr’s squad on Tuesday and is expected to miss the King’s Cup Round of 32 tie against Al‑Diriyah as staff prioritise his recovery.
- The club has put Ronaldo on a bespoke fitness programme that includes a reported 90‑minute session at the training centre to restore his match sharpness after an extended break.
- Al‑Nassr are targeting a return for Ronaldo on Friday, August 21 against Al‑Riyadh if he completes the programme without setbacks, according to local reporting.
- Manager Ange Postecoglou is rotating his squad because other players including goalkeeper Nawaf Al‑Aqidi, fullback Saad Al‑Nasser and striker Mohammed Maran are also unavailable for the cup tie.
- Ronaldo has not played since Portugal’s World Cup exit on July 6 and his gradual reintroduction reflects Al‑Nassr’s need to protect his fitness during a congested early schedule that includes league and cup fixtures.