En-Nesyri left out of Al Ittihad double-header in Spain as coach cites fatigue amid uncertainty over striker’s future

Morocco forward Youssef En-Nesyri missed Al Ittihad’s final two pre-season friendlies in Marbella after head coach Jens Keller opted to rest him because of fatigue, according to reports in Saudi Arabia.

Al Ittihad rounded off their training camp in Spain on Thursday with two matches in one day, losing 4-2 to La Liga side Real Mallorca before drawing 2-2 with Malaga. En-Nesyri played no part in either fixture, despite having started the club’s previous two friendlies against Orlando Pirates and Las Palmas.

Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya reported that Keller’s decision to omit the striker was based on medical and physical considerations rather than tactical reasons, with the player said to be suffering from fatigue.

Multiple players rested

En-Nesyri was not the only Al Ittihad player to be left out on those grounds. Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Farhah Al-Shamrani and Marwan Al-Sahafi were also absent from both games in Marbella for the same reason, the report added.

The pair of fixtures against Real Mallorca and Malaga brought an end to Al Ittihad’s overseas preparations for the new season, with Keller using the camp to assess his squad and manage workloads before competitive action begins.

Future of Morocco striker in the spotlight

The timing of En-Nesyri’s absence comes as speculation continues over his long-term future at the Jeddah club.

The 27-year-old has been linked with a possible move away from Al Ittihad, with some Moroccan clubs reportedly interested in signing him. The same report stated that Keller is not fully convinced by the forward’s qualities, further fuelling talk that a departure could be considered.

En-Nesyri only recently joined Al Ittihad and featured prominently earlier in the Marbella camp. He started in the 3-2 win over South African side Orlando Pirates, scoring one of the goals, and also began the subsequent 2-1 victory against Spanish club Las Palmas, although he did not find the net in that game.

Pre-season conclusions for Keller

Thursday’s double-header provided Keller with a final opportunity to evaluate his options before the squad returns from Spain. Despite the defeat to Real Mallorca and draw with Malaga, the German coach has been able to see En-Nesyri in competitive action earlier in the camp, as well as trialling different attacking combinations in the striker’s absence.

Al Ittihad have not issued an official statement on En-Nesyri’s condition or future, but the latest indications from the Saudi press are that his omission in Marbella was driven by physical fatigue rather than a direct consequence of ongoing transfer speculation.