Al Nassr has found itself in deep waters following the latest decision from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. Al Nassr skipper Cristiano Ronaldo has been slapped with a two-game ban following his explicit actions against Al Shadab. Losing CR7 at this stage of the season is an enormous blow for the side, especially with the team dependent on the player. However, it seems like Al Nassr head coach Luis Castro isn’t sweating about the ban at all. Talk about nerves of steel!
Al Nassr will lock horns against Al Hazm in their upcoming encounter in the Saudi Pro League. While fans might have expected Castro to prepare his team to play without their skipper, the manager has pulled off the polar opposite. According to reports, “Luis Castro used Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup to face Al Hazm on Thursday.”
His decision comes off as a massive surprise, considering Cristiano is likely to be absent from the fixture. But it seems like Castro wants to leave nothing for possibilities as he wants to train his best team during the training regardless of their availability. While a section of fans might not agree with his decision, his choice makes sense, considering Al Nassr relies heavily on their captain, and changing their tactics for a brief stint won’t do them any favor.
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أعتمد السيد لويس كاسترو بتدريبات اليوم على الاسطورة كرستيانو رونالدو بالتشكيل
الأساسي لمواجهة الحزم
يوم الخميس.#النصر— عبدالعزيز العصيمي (@a_altamimi11) February 27, 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo received a two-game ban for making obscene gestures towards fans during his game against Al Shadab. With the player out for the coming weeks, Luis Castro might have to rely on the likes of Talisca and Marcelo Brozovic to keep the team afloat.
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Can Talisca deliver for Al Nassr in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence?
While Cristiano Ronaldo has been the driving force behind Al Nassr’s success, no one can dismiss Talisca’s importance to the team. The Brazilian star has done a great job despite playing second fiddle to the Portuguese talisman. Talisca has scored 22 goals in his 24 outings for the side across all competitions, emerging as the team’s clutch factor on multiple occasions.
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With Cristiano out of the mix for the next set of games, Luis Castro will expect the Brazilian star to step up to the challenge. However, the player is not alone, as he will have the much-needed support from Brozovic, Otavio, and Sadio Mane. Do you think Al Nassr can keep their winning streak intact with their captain? Let us know in the comments below.
READ MORE: BANNED: Cristiano Ronaldo Suspended Due to NSFW Gesture on ‘Messi’ Chants During Al Nassr Game