Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be left out the matchday squad for Al-Nassr’s trip to Al-Akhdoud in the Saudi Pro League on May 12 due to a “lack of readiness”, according to Al-Riyadh.
The report also states Spain international Aymeric Laporte is rumoured to be closing in on an exit from the club a year before the former Manchester City defender’s contract ends.
The Saudi outlet also claims Laporte, who joined Al-Nassr from City for £23.6m [$31m] in August 2023, has been training alone because of ‘tensions’ with manager Stefano Pioli.
The defender is considering various offers, including one from French side Marseille, who secured UEFA Champions League qualification and at least a top-three place in the France top-flight this month.
Ronaldo’s omission is a concern for Pioli, despite his team having little left to play this season, after bowing out of AFC Champions League campaign courtesy of a 3-2 home loss against J League strugglers Kawasaki in the semi-finals on April 30.
The iconic No.7 was rested from the start in the previous league game at Damac, but he did not directly contribute to a goal in that game or their subsequent 3-2 home defeat against Al-Ittihad.
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Despite the Portuguese star going more than three-and-a-half hours without a league goal, he is still the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season with 23, followed by Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema on 21.
Al-Ittihad are nine points clear of second-placed Al-Hilal and cannot be caught by fifth-placed Al-Nassr, who are 14 points behind them.
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