Overview
- Cristiano Ronaldo did not play in Al‑Nassr’s friendly with UD Almería but attended the match and was filmed greeting teammates and coach Ange Postecoglou, according to the club’s video post and match coverage.
- Portuguese outlet A Bola and other reports say Ronaldo is cleared to rejoin full squad training in the coming days after an extended, discretionary break following Portugal’s July 6 World Cup exit.
- Al‑Nassr finished their Portugal camp with one win and three defeats, a run that exposed gaps in cohesion and match fitness with limited time left before the Roshn League opener.
- Ronaldo’s 25% ownership stake in UD Almería added an unusual twist to the friendly because Almería recently sold midfielder Dion Lopy to domestic rival Al‑Ittihad, a transfer that benefits a club Ronaldo partly owns.
- With few new signings completed and key World Cup players joining late, the club faces a narrow preparation window that could affect starting selections, player workload and early-season results.