Al Nassr players given final chance to secure futures under Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou has given Al Nassr’s players one last opportunity to prove they should remain with the club before the manager decides which members of his squad will leave ahead of the new season.

According to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, Postecoglou has asked Al Nassr’s administrative department to delay announcing the list of departures until the club completes its overseas training camp in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Australian coach will make his final decisions after Al Nassr play their last match in Portugal and return to Riyadh. Players identified as surplus to requirements could leave either on permanent transfers or loan deals.

The club’s management will not allow any player to depart on a free loan during the upcoming season, the report added. That policy will apply particularly to players who are on substantial salaries.

Postecoglou’s assessment comes as Al Nassr continue their preparations in Lisbon, where the squad has been based since 19 July. The Saudi club have played two friendly matches so far during the camp.

They lost their opening game 2-1 against Benfica’s reserve team before responding with a 2-0 victory over Spanish side Merida.

Al Nassr are scheduled to play their third friendly on Saturday, when they face Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. They will then conclude their training camp against Spanish side Almeria next Tuesday.

The results of those final matches, as well as the players’ performances throughout the camp, will give Postecoglou the last information he needs before determining the composition of his squad for the new campaign.

Any departures will be completed before the start of the season, with the club considering both permanent sales and temporary moves. Al Nassr’s decision not to sanction free loans is expected to be especially significant for players whose contracts carry high wage commitments.

The new season is due to begin in approximately two weeks, with Al Nassr facing Al Fateh on 15 August in the opening round of the Roshn Saudi League.

Postecoglou therefore has only a limited period remaining to make decisions on the players whose futures are uncertain. The Lisbon camp represents their final chance to remain part of his plans before the club begins acting on the departure list.