Al Nassr Hope for Ronaldos Return in Asian Champions League Two

Al Nassr are hopeful that Cristiano Ronaldo will return for their Asian Champions League Two match against Arkadag, with a quarterfinal spot at stake. The 41 year old missed two league games amid funding concerns. Despite his absence, Al Nassr defeated Al Ittihad 2-0. The Saudi Pro League stressed that no individual is bigger than the league.

After the recent uncertainty surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr, the Saudi club is hopeful that the 41 year old forward will return in time for their crucial Asian Champions League Two match against Arkadag of Turkmenistan. The fixture, scheduled for Wednesday, will decide who progresses to the quarterfinals of the competition. Ronaldo has missed Al-Nassr’s last two Saudi Pro League games amid reports of dissatisfaction over the club’s funding, especially after rivals Al-Hilal signed Karim Benzema in the previous transfer window.

Al-Nassr, along with Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, is majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. In response to the speculation, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement stressing that no individual player is bigger than the league or the club, while acknowledging Ronaldo’s role in boosting Al-Nassr’s profile and ambition.

Despite his absence, Al-Nassr recorded an impressive 2-0 win over reigning champions Al-Ittihad. In the wider tournament, Al-Hilal leads the western zone with six wins from six matches, while Al-Ahli has also secured qualification. In East Asia, only Vissel Kobe has confirmed a place in the next round so far. Meanwhile, China’s three representatives remain under pressure, with Shanghai Port currently bottom of the standings and close to elimination.