A month after his elimination from Euro 2024 during France-Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo returns to training with his Al-Nassr team, 10 days before his new season in Saudi Arabia.
After a Euro
2024 without any goals scored, during which he (only) converted his penalty during Portugal’s elimination against the French team in the quarter-finals a month ago, Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Al-Nassr. The holidays are over for “CR7”, who has resumed training with his teammates, while the team led by Luis Castro is training in Andalusia.
Al-Nassr continue their pre-season preparations with two matches against Granada on Sunday, then Almeria four days later. They then head to Saudi Arabia, where temperatures reach 43°C. In 10 days, the second-placed team in the Saudi Pro League behind Al-Hilal, thanks to the 35 goals of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, officially kicks off their season with a Saudi Super Cup semi-final against Al-Taawoun, the other game pitting Al-Hilal against Al-Ahly. The championship begins the following week.
Ronaldo, his team has not changed
Ronaldo is still accompanied by highly experienced players in Riyadh, including Aymeric Laporte, Alex Telles, Marcelo Brozovic, Seko Fofana, Talisca and Sadio Mane. David Ospina, 35, was released and Al-Nassr signed Brazilian goalkeeper Bento for €20 million from Athletico Paranaense. No other major signings have been made.
Al-Hilal, who were crowned champions after 31 wins, three draws and no defeats, are still led by Yassine Bounou, Kalidou Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Malcom Aleksandar Mitrovic and a returning Neymar. It is Al-Ittihad who have strengthened to better surround Karim Benzema, with the arrivals of Predrag Rajkovic, Houssem Aouar and Moussa Diaby. N’Golo Kanté and Fabinho are still there.
