Al Nassr enter the 2026/27 Saudi Pro League season as champions, but the opening weeks are already complicated by a significant absence. Cristiano Ronaldo will not feature in the club's first two matches of the new campaign, with Saudi reports confirming he is absent due to his wedding celebrations. It is a notable setback for a side managed by new head coach Ange Postecoglou, who replaced Jorge Jesus after the Portuguese led Al Nassr to their first title in seven years last season.

The uncertainty around Ronaldo's fitness and readiness is a real concern. He has been absent from pre-season training, having taken an extended break after Portugal's World Cup exit to Spain in the last 16. Questions are circulating about how sharp he will be when he does return, and whether Postecoglou's project can absorb that disruption at the start.

Off the pitch, the club is managing a separate personnel issue. Goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidi looks set to leave, with negotiations over his contract and playing time having become a recurring source of tension. Talks over a move to Al Fateh have stalled, though reports suggest his agent has been active in trying to resolve the situation. Al Nassr are reportedly identifying a local replacement should the deal be finalised.

The club also carries reported debts of around 800 million Saudi riyals into the new season, though the signing of Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa offered fans some encouragement that business can still be done. Al Nassr host Al Fateh at Al-Awwal Park on 15 August in their league opener, with Al Hilal just two points behind in the standings from last season.