Former Manchester United man set to face Al Nassr and potential Champions League heartache

Former Manchester United defender Alex Telles could face heartache as his new club Al Nassr must make squad decisions due to foreign player rules. Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival in Saudi Arabia has triggered transfer activity, leaving Al Nassr with a decision to make.

Alex Telles, the former Manchester United defender, may face disappointment despite his new club, Al Nassr, securing their spot in the AFC Champions League with a play-off victory. Al Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club, emerged victorious in a 4-2 win over Shabab Al-Ahli, with Brazilian forward Anderson Talisca scoring twice. However, the club now faces a predicament due to the governing body's regulations on foreign players.

The arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia has triggered a flurry of transfer activity throughout the league, with Al Nassr also strengthening their squad with several high-profile signings. The club is allowed to include five non-Asian players in their Champions League squad, along with a sixth foreign player from another AFC association. This leaves Al Nassr with a challenging decision to make.

Ronaldo's presence has attracted other notable players, such as Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane and Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, to join Al Nassr. Additionally, Alex Telles, who previously played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, has reunited with him at Al Nassr. The club has also acquired Seko Fofana from Lens.

However, Al Nassr has recently signed Otavio from Porto and already has Anderson Talisca in their squad. Talisca, who joined the club from Guangzhou Evergrande in 2021, has been instrumental in their qualification for the AFC Champions League, scoring 20 league goals in each of his two seasons with Al Nassr.

Neither Telles nor Otavio participated in the victory over Shabab Al-Ahli. Even if Al Nassr decides to sell Talisca, they will still have to exclude one of their foreign players when registering their tournament squad. The deadline for Al Nassr to submit their squad list is up to seven days before their first group stage game, scheduled to occur between 18-20 September.

Considering that Telles was the cheapest summer signing for Al Nassr at £6m, his place in the squad could be at risk as Cristiano Ronaldo aims to add another major trophy to his collection.

Al Nassr recently celebrated their triumph in the Arab Club Champions Cup and will rely on Ronaldo's leadership to pursue their first Champions League title.

In the UK, fans can watch the Saudi Pro League on DAZN, where they can catch three matches per week, featuring some of the biggest names in football. DAZN will also broadcast all of Al-Nassr's games, providing fans with a front-row seat to witness Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool legend Sadio Mane in action.

To access the matches, viewers can subscribe to DAZN for £9.99 per month or opt for a flexible pass priced at £19.99.

Watch the Saudi Pro League in the UK Follow all the action from the Saudi Pro League on DAZN

DAZN subscribers will be able to watch three matches per week from the ever growing Saudi Pro League, featuring some the biggest names in world football. DAZN will also be showing every minute of Al-Nassr's games which will bring fans front row seats to Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool legend, Sadio Mané.

£9.99 a month or get a flexible pass for £19.99

DAZN Watch it here

Share With Others