The last exchange between Saudi Arabia and Europe took the soccer world by storm. These two regions are gearing up for a budding partnership. The UEFA may allow Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo into its Champions League, with the popularity charts of the league on a steady rise. But the move is more complex than it seems and involves a lot of hurdles to cross.

The Cristiano Ronaldo effect is evident. It’s not just Al Nassr but the whole league that got a boost, with many players joining in. But the progress will go to another level if Al Nassr beats all odds and enters the UEFA Champions League. Here, we will discuss the bridges the team needs to get past to take part in the competition. 

Dealing with European Crowds

The reaction to Al Nassr being given a spot in the Champions League will definitely gain a lot of attention from the followers of the sport in Europe. Moreover, Cristiano Ronaldo will have many supporters behind his back or get a glimpse of the legend in his twilight years. But the team outside of the federation making its way despite being tough for other teams can bring in a lot of mixed reactions from crowds. Moreover, accommodating Al Nassr could lead to demands from other teams across the seas to be included in the tournament. The move could face such a challenge from the offset. 

Potential opposition from the team getting dropped for Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr

The UEFA Champions will see a change in format from the 2024–25 season. Even though the number of teams may slightly increase from 32 to 36, the UEFA could need to drop a team to accommodate Al Nassr. Although uncertain, the team that would be dropped or sacrificed will probably raise a protest against the move.

The changed format will see the first eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16. While the next 16 will fight for the other eight spots in the knockout stage, as informed by UEFA, the pairings in the knockout stage will also be determined by the 1st phase rankings.

Read More – Here’s How Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Coach has Bested Pep Guardiola in 2023 Despite Manchester City’s Treble Heroics

Fair Play Law System

Saudi has almost spent close to $1 billion in the last transfer window. However, the teams in UEFA are restricted by the Financial Fair Play law, which restrains teams from spending only an amount generated from revenue. With the Saudi clubs not having such restrictions, bringing a team with such luxury can potentially cause conflict.

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The move to the UEFA Champions League could be possible for Al Nassr. But similar news was denied by the UEFA president, citing changes in regulations that could be needed to accommodate them, which they do not want. However, Ronaldo has already made a mark in the tournament, being its highest scorer of all time. Can we see him back in Europe?