Cristiano Ronaldo could begin the AFC Champions League Two final on the bench as Al‑Nassr prepare to face Gamba Osaka on Saturday amid a string of injury doubts, Saudi reports say.
Arriyadiyah listed the problem group bluntly: "The injured group included Marcelo Brozovic, Angelo, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Abdulelah Al Amri, and Kingsley Coman." The report added that Marcelo Brozovic is considered the least likely player to recover in time for the final against Gamba Osaka, and another outlet said Brozovic was left off the call‑up as the team’s omitted foreign player.
The absences have real weight. Kingsley Coman — who has six goals in Al‑Nassr’s AFC Champions League Two campaign — was named in a subsequent squad call by coach Jorge Jesus, as was Angelo Gabriel, even after earlier doubts about their fitness. Bolavip reported that Abdullah Al‑Khaibari was not called up because he was recovering from a muscle injury sustained during practice before the 1-1 draw against Al Hilal, and that Abdulelah Al Amri, though he featured in the last Saudi Pro League match, remained a doubt for the final because of fatigue.
Jesus has responded by widening his pool. Bolavip said he promoted Abdulmalik Al‑Jaber, Awad Aman, Saad Haqawi and Sami Al‑Najai from Al‑Nassr’s under‑21 squad into first‑team training, while Arriyadiyah reported that Abdullah Al‑Hamdan has been prepared as a possible starter in Ronaldo’s place. Bolavip added that Jesus is considering an alternative lineup to manage player fatigue ahead of the season finale against Damac.
That calculus matters beyond a single match. The final offers Ronaldo the chance to secure his first official and first international title with Al‑Nassr — a notable milestone for a player who has won five UEFA Champions League trophies earlier in his career. Al‑Nassr are also positioned to contend for the Saudi Pro League title, and Bolavip reported that if Al Hilal fail to defeat Neom in league play, Al‑Nassr could be crowned Saudi Pro League champions on the same day as the AFC final. For a club chasing a rare double, minute management becomes a team‑defining decision.
The situation contains tension. Reports that Ronaldo might be benched sit beside indications that Coman and Angelo have recovered enough to travel, and that several youth promotions are ready to fill gaps. That mix — a superstar possibly spared, a high‑scoring attacker fit enough to be in the squad, and untested under‑21s thrust into first‑team training — leaves Jorge Jesus with a fraught selection problem on the eve of the continent’s decider.
Which choice Jesus makes will signal his priorities: press for continental glory with his established stars or preserve key players for a potential league crown and the season finale. The coach’s reported moves — omitting Brozovic from the call‑up, recalling Coman and Angelo, preparing Al‑Hamdan as a starter and promoting four under‑21s — suggest he is preparing to manage minutes and risk rather than simply field his preferred XI.
For Ronaldo, the final arrives as both opportunity and test. If he starts on the bench, it will be interpreted as a clear message that Al‑Nassr see the weekend as a two‑front operation demanding careful rotation. If he starts, the club will have put its immediate continental ambitions squarely on its marquee signing. Either way, the decision will define the narrative when Al‑Nassr meet Gamba Osaka — and it will shape whether the club can claim both domestic and Asian honors in the same 48 hours. For readers tracking the build‑up, earlier coverage is here: Cr7 and Al‑Nassr rout Al‑Ahli 5-1, now face Gamba Osaka in May 17 final —
