Cristiano Ronaldo’s first game since moving to Saudi Arabia could be against Lionel Messi due to his two-match ban – with Portugal star set to feature for a mixed team of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal stars in a friendly against PSG in 10 days’ time
- Cristiano Ronaldo could face Lionel Messi in his first game in Saudi Arabia
- Ronaldo is set to feature for a team including Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal players
- They will take on Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly in Riyadh this month
- Ronaldo is currently unable to play for Al-Nassr competitively due to suspension
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first game since his move to Saudi Arabia could see him face his nemesis Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo officially joined Al-Nassr at the start of January following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United but he has yet to make his debut for his new club.
Portugal star Ronaldo could be in line to feature for a team containing a mixture of players from Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, who are set to face PSG in a friendly in Riyadh on January 19, as reported by The Guardian.
Cristiano Ronaldo could face Lionel Messi in his first game since moving to Saudi Arabia
The 37-year-old received a two-game FA suspension after smashing an Everton fan’s phone last year.
As a consequence, Ronaldo missed Al-Nassr’s 2-0 win against Al Tai and also won’t be able to feature against Al-Shabab.
It is anticipated that Ronaldo’s first competitive appearance for Al-Nassr will come against Ettifaq on January 22.
Ronaldo could play for a team of Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal players in a friendly against PSG
Ronaldo and Messi have frequently been compared with each other during their careers
That could potentially see Ronaldo face Messi, although it remains to be seen whether the latter will be involved in the fixture.
Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia expressed his disappointment with the scheduling of the friendly against PSG.
As reported by L’Equipe, Garcia said: ‘It [Ronaldo’s debut] won’t be with the Al Nassr jersey. As the coach of Al-Nassr, I cannot be happy with this match. For development, to see PSG, to see the great Parisian players, indeed it is a good thing. But we have a championship game three days later.
‘In terms of scheduling, it could have been better thought out. But it’s not a big deal… We are in the lead, we are happy. It is a difficult championship to win, but we intend to do it.’
Ronaldo is still yet to make his official debut for Al-Nassr because of suspension
The Portuguese star joined Al-Nassr after his acrimonious departure from Manchester United
Al-Nassr are finally able to register Ronaldo after terminating the contract of Vincent Aboubakar.
Saudi league rules state that clubs are only able to register up to eight foreign players per squad.
Ronaldo, who is set to earn £175million-a-year at Al-Nassr, has been working hard in the gym as he awaits his debut for his new club.
Throughout his career Ronaldo has frequently been compared to Messi, especially when they played for Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
Messi has won the Ballon d’Or on a record seven occasions, while Ronaldo has won it five times.
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