Why Cristiano Ronaldo isn't playing tonight for Al Nassr vs FC Goa in AFC Two?

Ronaldo did not travel with the squad for the Al-Nassr game in India.

Millions of Indian fans were disappointed when Cristiano Ronaldo decided not to accompany Al Nassr for their AFC Champions League Two match against FC Goa, ending an eagerly awaited buildup.

The 40-year-old Portuguese icon, who is frequently regarded as one of the best players of all time, chose not to travel ahead of the match, which is set for tonight at Goa’s Fatorda Stadium.

Ronaldo was conspicuously missing from the travelling team when Al Nassr’s squad landed in India on Monday night. The match was one of the most anticipated of the season since fans nationwide had been optimistically waiting to watch the five-time Ballon d’Or winner play on Indian soil for the first time.

Indian supporters, especially in Goa, where preparations were underway for what would have been a historic athletic event, are naturally saddened by Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to skip the trip.

The prospect of meeting the football star had even excited Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who described his prospective visit as a moment of “great pride” that may motivate young players and improve Goa’s reputation in the world of sports.

Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not playing tonight for Al-Nassr?

Al-Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus confirmed during the press conference that he decided to rest the forward. Moreover, he added that he will only use him when the games are played in Saudi Arabia.

“Everyone loves Cristiano Ronaldo, and he has a lot of fans. We have decided to rest him when we play outside Saudi Arabia. Everyone wants to see and meet him, but we chose to keep him in Riyadh to prepare for the next game,” coach Jorge Jesus told reporters.

Another twist in the story is that Ronaldo’s contract reportedly contains a clause allowing him to choose which away games outside of Saudi Arabia he wants to play in.

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