Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Parts Ways With Key Figure Responsible for Player Performance and Health Amid Injury Struggles

It has been a turbulent ride for Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr this month. The team lost three matches and got knocked out of the AFC Champions League. Meanwhile, a league tie win against Al Ahli gave them a breather. Then arose another headache, as star signing Aymeric Laporte now aims to leave Al Nassr for Europe. Furthermore, the team has now forced Ronaldo to part with perhaps a close friend of his from the team’s training camp.

Given the fitness freak Ronaldo is, it is no surprise that he has a warm equation with Al Nassr’s chief nutritionist Jose Blesa. Sadly, however, Blesa’s time as an Al Nassr employee is done. As per the Saudi-based X handle NFC Diario, Al Nassr has decided to dispense with the club’s diet officer, Jose Blesa, and terminate his services. The reason behind Blesa’s termination is unknown. Moreover, the details of the nutritionist’s contract with Al Nassr are not available. As per Blesa’s LinkedIn profile, he joined Al Nassr as their chief nutritionist in September 2022, around four months before Cristiano Ronaldo joined.

Before joining Al Nassr, Blesa worked as a professor of health at the Real Madrid University School in Spain. Besides that, Blesa has taught in other institutions in Spain and has also closely worked with the La Liga Training Hub. At Al Nassr, the Spanish nutritionist has played a crucial role in player recovery amid recurrent injuries. Notably, CR7, 39, missed friendlies in China and against Inter Miami due to a muscle injury. But the recovery was faster than expected, and he has not missed a competitive match because of injury this year. While ceaselessly aiding Al Nassr players, Blesa once mentioned how Ronaldo indirectly made his job easier.

When Blesa credited Cristiano Ronaldo for instilling discipline in Al Nassr stars

In October 2023, Jose Blesa shed light on the profound influence Cristiano Ronaldo had on his Al Nassr teammates. “Since Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at the club, all the players have trained more intensely and followed a stricter diet. In fact, Al-Nassr players now have less fat and more muscles,” Blesa said. Thereafter, the former chief nutritionist gave details about Ronaldo’s Mediterranean diet, saying how the 5x-Ballon d’Or winner prefers fish, chicken, and salad, and avoids sugar and fried foods.

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“There’s a school for those around him[Ronaldo], the rest of the players do what he does because everything he does is great to improve performance,” added Blesa. Now that Al Nassr has shown the door to Jose Blesa, it is to be doubted if he and Ronaldo will ever cross paths again. What are your thoughts on Al Nassr dismissing their chief nutritionist? Tell us in the comments below.

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