Al-Nassr will be without Sadio Mané for their AFC Champions League Elite 2 round of 16 first-leg match against Arkadag in Turkmenistan on Wednesday.
The Senegalese international has been rested and remains in Saudi Arabia to continue training, as part of a broader strategy by the club to manage player fitness amid a congested schedule.
Cristiano Ronaldo, another star of the squad, has also been left behind, joining Mané and other players who are preparing at home while the team travels.
“This is a precautionary measure to ensure key players are in optimal condition for upcoming national and continental competitions,” a club source said.
The trip to Turkmenistan poses a challenging test for Al-Nassr. While the Saudi side are favourites on paper, knockout fixtures can be unpredictable.
Deprived of two of their main attacking options, Al-Nassr will rely on squad depth and the experience of other key players to secure a favourable result ahead of the return leg at home.
Resting Mané and Ronaldo reflects the club’s focus on long-term management, balancing domestic and continental commitments.
With rotation becoming essential at this stage of the season, Al-Nassr aim to preserve their stars for critical fixtures while still competing strongly in the AFC Champions League.
Coaching staff emphasised that the absence of the two forwards does not diminish the team’s ambitions. “Our objective is to perform at a high level and progress to the quarter-finals, with or without our star players,” the source added.
The first leg against Arkadag will test the squad’s resilience, tactical adaptability, and the depth of Al-Nassr’s bench.
Observers will be watching closely to see if the club’s rotation strategy pays dividends in both the immediate result and the long-term campaign.
