Senegal international Sadio Mane will not be part of Al-Nassr’s travelling squad for their continental assignment, as the Senegalese star has been left behind in Saudi Arabia ahead of the club’s AFC Elite Two Champions League round-of-16 clash against Arkadağ.
The Riyadh-based side made the journey to Turkmenistan without several of their key figures, with head coach Jorge Jesus opting to rotate his squad and manage workloads during a congested fixture schedule.
Among players rested for the first-leg encounter is Mane and global icon Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom have remained in the Saudi capital.
The 33-year-old attacker is continuing his training programme alongside other non-travelling teammates, maintaining fitness ahead of upcoming domestic and continental commitments.
The decision to rest Mane comes despite his strong form in the Saudi Pro League. Since returning from international duty, the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward has been an influential figure for Al-Nassr, delivering consistent performances and providing attacking spark in recent league matches.
Mane recently helped Senegal secure continental glory at the Africa Cup of Nations, a triumph that further underlined his importance at both club and international level. With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, Al-Nassr’s technical staff appear keen to preserve the winger’s sharpness and avoid unnecessary risks, especially as the tie against Arkadağ will be decided over two legs.
Al-Nassr are expected to rely on their squad depth in the first leg, while the rested stars could return for the reverse fixture or upcoming league encounters as the season reaches a decisive phase.
