The biggest story surrounding Al Nassr right now is Cristiano Ronaldo's public account of his dramatic exit from the Portugal camp, and what it means for his immediate future. In a detailed statement, Ronaldo confirmed he does not want to retire from international football, explaining that coach Jorge Jesus broke a promise to play him against Norway, then failed to publicly clarify the situation as agreed. Ronaldo accepted personal blame for leaving the training camp, calling his own departure a mistake given his role as captain, and said he expects to be sanctioned by the Portuguese Football Federation. The door to a return remains open, with Jesus signalling he still needs Ronaldo and federation president Pedro Proença describing the dispute as a misunderstanding that can be resolved internally.

On the pitch, Al Nassr are navigating a mixed run of form. The 4-0 defeat to Al-Ain in the AFC Champions League Elite exposed defensive vulnerabilities at the highest level, and results in the Saudi Pro League have been uneven. The club sit third in the table with 16 points from seven games, level with Al Qadsiah and one point behind leaders Al Ittihad. There is also a concern in the squad, with medical checks on 21-year-old Rakan Al-Ghamdi raising fears over a potential cruciate ligament injury sustained while on under-21 duty. Al Nassr host Al Diriyah at Al-Awwal Park on 9 October, a fixture that offers a chance to build momentum before tougher tests ahead.