In a surprising development that sparked widespread controversy in Saudi and international sports circles, the famous Italian journalist and transfer market expert, Fabrizio Romano, revealed the real reasons behind the absence of Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo from his team Al-Nassr's anticipated match against their traditional rival Al-Ittihad.

Romano confirmed via his official X account on Thursday evening that Ronaldo's exclusion from the "Clásico" squad was not due to the usual reasons that might come to mind. He clarified categorically that the absence was not related to any disagreements or problems with the coaching staff, led by the manager, or with the club's management. He also denied any muscle injury or physical problem that would prevent the "Madeira Rocket" from participating.

The reliable journalist wrote: "Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Al-Nassr's upcoming match against Al-Ittihad on Friday, as announced here last Monday. There are no issues with Al-Nassr's coaching or administrative staff, no injuries, and no physical problems." This statement added to the uncertainty surrounding the situation, especially since Ronaldo had recently missed group training sessions without official explanation, before appearing in Wednesday evening's training session, which gave fans hope of his participation before his absence was confirmed.

The importance of El Clásico and the impact of absence

The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match holds immense historical and popular significance, as this "classic" encounter is considered a cornerstone of Saudi and Middle Eastern football. This match comes at a crucial time, with Al-Nassr striving to maintain their pursuit of the top spot, while Al-Ittihad aims to improve their position in the standings. The absence of a star of Ronaldo's caliber, the team's all-time leading scorer and captain, casts a shadow not only on Al-Nassr's attacking prowess but also on the media and fan buzz surrounding the match, which is eagerly anticipated by millions worldwide.

Looking at the Portuguese star's statistics this season, the expected impact of his absence becomes clear. The 41-year-old, despite his age, remains a key player in the team. He has participated in 22 matches for Al-Nassr across all competitions this season, scoring 18 goals and providing 3 assists for his teammates, totaling 1917 minutes of play, making him the team's most decisive element.

The battle for the top spot and the league standings

Al-Nassr enters this match in second place in the Roshan Professional League standings with 46 points, just one point behind league leaders Al-Hilal. A victory in this game is therefore crucial to maintaining their title challenge. Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad sits in sixth place with 34 points and is striving to return to the top four.

The match hosted by Al-Nasr is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 pm on Friday, as part of the (21) round competitions, amid great anticipation of how Al-Nasr's technical staff will deal with this significant absence in one of the most important matches of the season.

The veteran French star Karim Benzema, the new arrival to Al-Hilal Club, launched his career with the leader in an exceptional way, achieving a historic record in his first official appearance in the blue team’s jersey during the match against Al-Akhdoud, within the Saudi Professional League competitions.

The former Ballon d'Or winner quickly etched his name in Al-Hilal's history books, recording his fastest scoring start with any club throughout his illustrious professional career. Benzema found the net against Al-Akhdoud just 31 minutes after kickoff, announcing his arrival with a bang. Not content with that, he continued his brilliance by scoring two more goals in the 60th and 64th minutes, completing a hat-trick in his debut match.

Returning to the language of numbers and historical comparisons of Benzema's career, this start with Al-Hilal surpassed all his previous beginnings with European and Saudi clubs. His previous fastest goal was with Al-Ittihad, when he scored after 54 minutes in his debut. In contrast, Benzema needed three full matches to score his first goal for Real Madrid, and waited until his tenth match to find the net for Lyon at the start of his career.

This remarkable performance comes after Karim Benzema joined Al-Hilal during the current winter transfer window, following the termination of his contractual relationship with Al-Ittihad Club, to sign a new contract with the Blue Force that extends until the summer of 2027. This deal is considered one of the most prominent local transfers, given the great technical value that the player represents and the extensive experience he possesses in international stadiums.

This deal holds significant importance both locally and regionally. Benzema's transfer from Al-Ittihad to their arch-rivals Al-Hilal intensifies the competition in the Saudi Professional League, highlighting the league's appeal and its ability to retain and rotate international stars among its top clubs to raise the level of competition. Furthermore, Benzema's continued brilliance at the age of 38 sends a powerful message about his high level of professionalism and his ability to maintain his physical fitness and goal-scoring prowess despite his age.

It is worth noting that Al-Ittihad Club had signed the French international striker in the summer transfer window of the 2023/2024 season, coming from the ranks of Real Madrid in a deal that shook the global sports circles at the time, before the player decided to take on a new challenge within the Kingdom through the gateway of the Asian giant, Al-Hilal Club.

Al-Hilal's Italian manager, Simone Inzaghi, has announced the official lineup for the team's upcoming match against Al-Akhdoud, in the 21st round of the Saudi Professional League. This match is particularly important as it will be played away from home at Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium, adding a new challenge for Al-Hilal in their quest for the title.

Al-Hilal's official lineup against Al-Akhdoud

Inzaghi decided to field his strongest lineup in this match, with the starting eleven packed with stars to ensure securing the three points. The lineup was as follows:

• Goalkeeper: Yassine Bounou.
• Defense line: Theo Hernandez, Ali Lajami, Kalidou Koulibaly, Hamad Al-Yami.
• Midfield: Sergej Savic, Ruben Neves, Simon Poiri.
• Attack line: Malcolm Philippe, Salem Al-Dawsari, Karim Benzema.

Benzema's return and forced changes in defense

The list witnessed a pleasant surprise for Al-Hilal fans with the presence of international star Karim Benzema as a key element in leading the attacking line, as the technical staff relies on him to unlock Al-Akhdoud’s defenses and exploit half-chances inside the penalty area, especially in light of the expected harmony with wingers Salem Al-Dawsari and Malcom Philip.

On the defensive front, Inzaghi made a forced change, bringing in defender Ali Lajami to the starting lineup to compensate for the absence of international defender Hassan Tambakti. Tambakti's absence from this crucial match is due to suspension resulting from an accumulation of yellow cards, which ruled him out of the coaching staff's plans for this round. This places the burden on Lajami and Coulibaly to secure the back line in front of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

The context of the competition and the importance of the match

This match comes at a crucial juncture in the Roshan Professional League, as teams enter the decisive stages of the competition and strive to accumulate points. Facing Al-Akhdoud at their home ground in Najran represents a true test of Al-Hilal's mental and physical readiness, given the expected large crowd and the difficulty of playing away from home. With such star players, Al-Hilal aims to establish early dominance on the field and avoid any surprises that could derail their league campaign.

The Roshan League matches enjoy widespread global attention, placing a significant responsibility on the players and coach Simone Inzaghi to deliver performances worthy of Saudi football's reputation and the remarkable development of sports in the Kingdom. The presence of such prominent names as Neves, Savic, and Benzema in the starting lineup reflects the team's formidable technical prowess and underscores their burning desire to continue winning and strive for championship titles.