Youssef En-Nesyri left out of Al-Ittihad squad ahead of Al-Ettifaq clash

Moroccan international Youssef En-Nesyri has been surprisingly excluded from the Al-Ittihad Club squad set to face Al-Ettifaq FC on Thursday in the Saudi Professional League.

The decision has sparked reactions among supporters, especially with the striker being one of the club’s key attacking figures this season.

Sergio Conceicao Makes Technical Decision

According to reports from Saudi media outlet Al-Riyadh, En-Nesyri’s absence was purely a technical decision made by Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição.

Al-Ittihad travelled from Jeddah to Dammam on Wednesday evening with a 22-man squad that did not include the Moroccan striker.

Also missing from the travelling delegation were Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena, Portuguese winger Roger Fernandes, and midfielder Hamed Al-Ghamdi.

Reports added that Fernandes was left out due to fitness concerns following a recent injury, while the exclusions of En-Nesyri, Ilenikhena, and Al-Ghamdi were tactical choices by the coaching staff.

Defensive Reinforcement Added To Squad

The Portuguese tactician reportedly opted to include Croatian defender Jan Carlo Simić in order to complete the club’s list of eight foreign players for the encounter.

The move comes at a crucial stage of the season as Al-Ittihad continue their league campaign with important fixtures ahead.

Focus Remains On Upcoming International Duties

Despite the unexpected omission, En-Nesyri remains an important figure for the Moroccan national team ahead of upcoming international competitions.

The striker has continued to attract attention with his performances in Saudi Arabia and is still expected to play a key role for Morocco in future tournaments.