Manchester City Forces Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr to Change Game Timings Due to Club World Cup Clash

It seems like Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al Nassr wants no smoke when it comes to Manchester City. With the side’s upcoming fixture against Al-Ettifaq set to clash against the Citizens Club World Cup game, Al-Nassr has quickly changed their game timings. The move does not come off as a big surprise as both clubs are owned by Saudi Arabian investors who would not want to dilute the viewership.

Manchester City will be hoping to get their hands on the Club World Cup title this season. The side is set to directly play in the semi-finals of the tournament after winning the Champion League last season. The team will also be boosted by the return of Kevin De Bruyne, who is likely to make a return to the team during the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo-led Al Nassr make changes to their game timings

Saudi side Al Nassr has made some minor tweaks to their game timings for their match-up against Al-Ettifaq on the 22nd of December. With Manchester City’s game timings clashing with the side’s fixture, Al-Nassr has decided to push their game ahead to avoid a clash.

While Al-Nassr’s game against Al Ettifaq was set to start at 9:00 PM (Riyadh Timing), the game has been now moved to 6:00 PM (Riyadh Timing) to avoid a clash from the finals of the Club World Cup. The decision is likely taken because Manchester City is the popular favorite to make it into the finals of the tournament.

The game is also set to attract a lot of attention as Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne could be making their return to the squad during the Club World Cup fixtures. While Haaland has been absent from Manchester City’s lineup for the last two games, De Bruyne has missed most of the season due to hamstring issues.

Big boost for Manchester City as stars set to return during the Club World Cup

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola talked about a potential return for De Bruyne during the tournament in his recent press conference. Guardiola stated, “I think he has started to run on the pitch but hasn’t trained with us once. The FIFA Club World Cup is in two or three weeks. I don’t know. Maybe it’s a bit early, but I don’t know (at this point).”

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Erling Haaland in 2023: Goals, Assists and Stats Compared

However, while he may not be a hundred percent sure of De Bruyne’s return, the Spaniard stated that star striker Erling Haaland might be back by Thursday. It will be interesting to see if Manchester City brings out top guns for the tournament or decides to give them a much-needed rest, considering the important fixtures that lie ahead of the team.

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