Ronaldo missing once more as Al-Nassr secures victory in AFC Champions League Two
Cristiano Ronaldo was absent for the third straight match for Al Nassr during the club’s 1-0 win over Arkadag FC in the first leg of the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League Two, as the Portuguese forward prepares for a likely return to Saudi Pro League play this Saturday.
Ronaldo has opted to conclude his boycott of Al Nassr matches and intends to participate in the game against Al Fateh on February 14, according to sources cited by ESPN.
The 41-year-old forward was seen training with teammates in Riyadh, as shared on Al Nassr’s social media platforms on Wednesday morning.
Ronaldo missed two matches for the Saudi Pro League club due to dissatisfaction with the PIF (Saudi Arabia’s Sovereign Investment Fund) and its approach regarding the club’s transfer strategy, sources indicated.
Abdullah Al-Hamdan netted the sole goal of the match in Asia’s second-tier competition, placing Al-Nassr in a favorable position ahead of the return fixture next week in Riyadh.
In the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top club tournament, Algeria international Houssem Aouar achieved a hat trick as Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Gharafa 7-0 in the second-to-last round of group stage matches. This outcome secured the two-time champion’s advancement to the round of 16 alongside Al Ahli and Al Hilal.
Information from The Associated Press and PA was utilized in this report.
