AI Nassr cancel China trip after Cristiano Ronaldo injury

Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr have called off their scheduled two-game trip to China. This decision comes in the wake of a muscle injury sustained by their iconic Portuguese forward, Cristiano Ronaldo. As a result of the injury, Ronaldo will be unable to feature until he regains fitness.

The 38-year-old Portuguese star is facing a muscle issue, forcing him to miss games against Shanghai Shenhua and Zhejiang. Consequently, these friendly matches are indefinitely postponed, as Ronaldo can't play in front of his fans.

According to reports and unofficial estimates from Al-Nassr officials, Ronaldo, with 54 goals in 2023 for both Al-Nassr and Portugal, might be sidelined for a couple of weeks due to his current injury. If his injury turns out to be as serious as it appears, Ronaldo could miss the highly anticipated faceoff against long-time rival Lionel Messi. Inter Miami is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Cup in February 2024.

Upon his arrival in China with his Al Nassr teammates, Ronaldo received a warm welcome from his Chinese fans. However, the celebratory atmosphere took a turn when a potential injury threat surfaced. In a training video released by the club on X, Ronaldo was seen with his left calf wrapped, sparking speculation about an injury. The club



later confirmed the injury, dampening the initial celebration mood.

Ronaldo's injury could potentially affect Al Nassr's current 2023-24 SPL campaign, especially considering the crucial title-deciding matches against Al Hilal and their AFC Champions League game against Al Feiha on February 14. Currently, the player has issued a public statement to his fans about being unable to travel to China with his team. In his statement, he also commended China, a country he had previously visited during his time with teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United.

"I feel sad. I know you are sad too, especially the people who love Cristiano, but we have to see this in a good way. We have not cancelled the game, we want to push for the game and be back here. We will be backâ€æI want to play for you. Don't be sad because I am sad, and I hope you understand the circumstances of a football player." Cristiano Ronaldo said in his statement.

Ronaldo's 2023 season has been phenomenal, with the player finishing the calendar year as the highest goalscorer in the world. The Portuguese was awarded the Best Middle East Player prize, the Maradona Award for the best goalscorer in 2023, and the Fans' Favourite Player of the Year award, at the 2023 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai on January 19.