The Australian has inherited the world’s most-followed footballer as his marquee player.
Ronaldo will be absent when Al-Nassr open the defence of their Saudi Pro League title, and he will also sit out a King Cup of Champions tie against Al-Diriyah. His first appearance of the campaign is now expected to come on 21 August against Al-Riyadh, according to reporting by 365Scores Arabic relayed by World Soccer Talk.
Postecoglou met his captain for the first time during Al-Nassr’s pre-season base in Portugal, around the friendly against Almeria on 7 August. Speaking after that meeting, he explained the decision.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a very important player, and it is certainly an honour for me to share a dressing room with him and the other players feel the same way,” Postecoglou said.
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“I had a conversation with Cristiano, and he confirmed to me his readiness for the new season.”
“He deserves more rest, and he will soon return to the team’s camp to prepare for the campaign ahead.”
A manager with a European trophy on his CV
The identity of the man making that call is the story here. Al-Nassr’s move for Postecoglou, confirmed on 3 July, brought in a coach with silverware from four different continents. He replaced Jorge Jesus, who left after guiding the club to their first Saudi Pro League title in seven years.
The 60-year-old Greece-born Australian signed a two-year deal and landed in Riyadh shortly after. Al-Nassr greeted him with a short club message: “A new chapter. Our best wishes for success to him and his staff in their journey with the global club, God willing.”
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His most recent European honour is the 2024-25 Europa League, which he won with Tottenham to end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy. He was dismissed by Spurs soon after, and a brief stint at Nottingham Forest ended after 39 days without a win.
From World Cup exit to extended break
Ronaldo has not played competitively since Portugal’s 1-0 defeat by Spain on 6 July, a last-16 loss decided by a Mikel Merino goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Before that match he had already confirmed the 2026 tournament would be his final World Cup.
“I’m fine, sad to leave the World Cup this way,” he told SportTV afterwards. “But, as I said yesterday in the press conference, I gave my best and I leave with a clear conscience.”
Al-Nassr’s pre-season camp in Lisbon began on 19 July and closed on 5 August without him. João Félix and Sadio Mané were back in the squad by early August; only Ronaldo, entitled to the standard three-week post-World Cup break, stayed away.
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Ronaldo returns to a title-winning squad
When Ronaldo does return, it will be into a squad that lifted the Saudi Pro League title last season, with Al-Riyadh at home the fixture that finally puts the pairing every preview has been built around on the same pitch.
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