Although Cristiano Ronaldo has spent his entire career refusing to sit on the bench, things will change next season, based on his own wishes, according to the Portuguese newspaper “Record.”
Ronaldo renewed his contract with Al-Nassr for two years, and in just a few days, his compatriot Jorge Jesus will be announced as the new coach of the club, succeeding the dismissed Stefano Pioli.
According to “Record,” Ronaldo will meet with Jesus as soon as he is appointed to discuss how things will progress next season. The 40-year-old intends to demand not to start every match, as was the case in the last two years with Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo only wants to play in important matches and is open to sitting on the bench in unimportant matches or even being excluded from the squad.
Ronaldo clearly plans to avoid overexerting himself or risking serious injuries. He is determined to maintain his fitness in order to be one of Portugal’s first participants in the 2026 World Cup.
Given Ronaldo’s desire, he will certainly miss the AFC Champions League matches, part of the Saudi League and the King’s Cup. This could even mean sacrificing his favorite title, “League Top Scorer,” which he has achieved in the last two seasons.
It should be noted that Ronaldo has participated in 105 matches with Al-Nassr across various competitions, scoring 93 goals and providing 19 assists, but has failed to lead the team to major titles.
