Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo will not play against Al Nassr in Tuesday night’s Asian Champions League match, as coach Luis Castro has opted to rest the Portugal international.
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Ronaldo, aged 38, has scored 21 goals in 22 games this season. The Portuguese striker scored his last goal of the campaign in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Al Khaleedah in the Saudi Pro League, helping Al Nassr, last season’s runners-up, stay second in the league.
Just five days earlier, he had played the whole match against Al Etifaq in the last-16 of the King’s Cup, which Nassr won 1-0 after a penalty shoot-out.
Cristiano Ronaldo needs rest: Castro
However, Luis Castro confirmed that Ronaldo will not play against Al Duhail on Tuesday in Doha, even though Al Nassr could still qualify for the Champions League knockout stage.
“Cristiano Ronaldo will not participate in the match because he is tired due to his many participations,” Castro said at Monday’s pre-match press conference. “I know that there are those who want to see him, but he needs to rest.
“He is not ready, but we have many stars. I did not decide to exclude the legend Cristiano Ronaldo, but his capabilities decided that. Because 48 hours ago he played a match, and before that he played 120 minutes.”
Al Nassr is currently four points off leaders Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League table. It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo and his team can topple Neymar’s team at the top. Al Nassr will look to win their first league trophy since Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival. Before that, they need to see out the Al Duhail test.
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