Cristiano Ronaldo's superstar teammate set to be left out of Al-Nassr squad for SPL clash against Al-Wehda: Reports

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr teammate Talisca has reportedly been left out of the squad to face Al-Wehda in the Saudi Pro League on Friday (September 27). The Knights of Najd are coming off a last-gasp 2-1 win at Al-Hazem in the King Cup of Champions Round of 32.

Stefano Pioli's side took the lead through Sadio Mane in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage time before Basil Yousef Alsayyali equalised for the hosts just after the hour mark. However, Nawaf Boushal scored a 92nd-minute winner to give his side the win.

It's pertinent to note that Ronaldo missed the game due to a virus. While the 39-year-old is expected to return for the Al-Wahda game, NFC1World has reported that Pioli has excluded attacker Talisca from the squad, tweeting (as translated from Arabic):

"Pioli decides to exclude Talisca from the Al-Nassr-Al-Wahda match."

Talisca has played all eight games for his side this season, contributing three goals - all in the league - where Pioli's side are fifth in the standings with eight points from four games, four behind leaders and defending champions Al-Hilal.

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How has Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo fared this season?

Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has had a superb start to his second full season with Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr - whom he joined in December 2022 after two decades in European football.

Coming off a 44-goal season, Ronaldo has continued from where he left off - scoring in his first four outings across competitions before drawing a blank in the 1-1 home draw with Al-Ahli in the league.

However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner - after missing the 1-1 draw at Al-Shorta in the AFC Champions League Elite opener due to a virus - returned to scoring ways in the 3-0 league win at Al-Ettifaq.

Overall, Ronaldo has registered five goals and two assists in seven games across competitions this season. As expected, most of those goal contributions - three goals and an assist in four games - have come in the league, where his team have work to do to catch up with the leaders.

Ronaldo's two other goals and an assist have come in two games in the Saudi Super Cup - where Al-Alami lost 4-1 to holders Al-Hilal in the final. The defeat meant that the former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker remains without a competitive trophy since moving to Saudi Arabia nearly two years ago.