Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Suffer Humiliating Defeat in Preseason Tie Against Celta Vigo

• Cristiano Ronaldo played in his first pre-season game ahead of the 2023-24 campaign
• He lasted 45 minutes in the match against Celta Vigo which resulted in a heavy defeat
• It is the third preparatory match for Al-Nassr ahead of the new Saudi Pro League term

Cristiano Ronaldo had a nightmarish start to the pre-season as Al-Nassr suffered a crashing 5-0 defeat against Celta Vigo on July 17.

The Saudi Pro League giants were handed a reality check in their third preparatory game ahead of the 2023/24 season as things took a tumultuous turn.

Despite a decent first-half performance that held Celta to a goalless draw, things unraveled in the second half - worsened by a red card - resulting in a demoralizing 5-0 defeat.

Gael Alonso opened the floodgates for the Spanish side three minutes before the hour mark, followed by Miguel Rodriguez's brace in the 62nd and 71st minutes.

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Norwegian forward, Jorgen Strand Larsen, mirrored Rodriguez's feat and scored two goals in quick succession, underscoring Al-Nassr's collapse.

Al-Nassr's difficult preseason continues

As the new head coach of the Riyadh-based club, Luis Castro faces a challenging task ahead, with subsequent pre-season matches against European powerhouses Benfica, PSG, and 2022 Champions League finalists Inter Milan.

The manager must now strategise and regroup for the demanding tests that lie ahead, but he would be pleased that his captain - Ronaldo - got 45 minutes of playing time and new signing, Marcelo Brozovic, also managed 54 minutes.

Despite the setback of their loss to Celta Vigo, there are promising signs for the Portuguese manager as he readies his Al-Nassr squad for the upcoming season.

Al-Nassr slapped with transfer ban

Meanwhile, according to Talk Sport, FIFA has banned Al-Nassr from registering new players due to an ongoing dispute with English club, Leicester City.

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The Saudi Pro League club reportedly owes the Foxes from the £14 million transfer deal for Ahmed Musa in 2018, with the 2016 Premier League champions still awaiting £390,000 in add-ons that were part of the agreement.

As a result of non-payment since the completion of the deal for the Nigerian forward, Al-Nassr now faces restrictions from the football body on signing new players.

Ronaldo hits 'Siuuu' in training

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ronaldo is still the king of goal celebrations, and he proved that once again during Al-Nassr’s pre-season training on July 12.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was in a jubilant mood with his teammates during the Saudi Pro League club's training session ahead of the new season.

After netting a goal, Ronaldo celebrated with his trademark 'Siuuu', much to the admiration of everyone watching both on the pitch and on the sidelines.