Al-Nassr offer Cristiano Ronaldo update after Portugal star left out of travelling squad for AFC Champions League last 16 tie

Cristiano Ronaldo has not travelled to Tehran with the Al-Nassr squad after the Portugal icon was left out of their matchday squad that will face Esteghlal in the first leg of their AFC Champions League last-16 fixture. While Ronaldo missed out, stars like Jhon Duran, Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic have travelled to the Iranian capital.

Per DPA news agency (h/t The Daily Mail) Al-Nassr reportedly wrote to the AFC to change the venue of the game to a neutral stadium due to problems Ronaldo faced in Tehran in the past. AFC, however, did not entertain the Saudi giants' request. The official letter from Al-Nassr read: "Given Ronaldo's bad experience in Tehran last year, the match should be played on neutral ground."

Speaking to reporters, Al-Nassr boss Stefano Pioli offered an update on his star man: "He had a physical problem, but I wouldn't say it was 100% a big problem, but we preferred him not to be in the game."

This will be the third time that Al-Nassr will play in Iran. Ronaldo's first and only match in Tehran was against Persepolis in the AFC Champions League in September 2023, which the Saudi side won 2-0. The match was played in an empty stadium as Persepolis fans were serving a stadium ban, but that did not stop the local fans from storming into the team hotel to meet the ex-Manchester and Real Madrid legend. Police had to intervene to control the crow and that incident was considered as a 'big problem' for the superstar.

The 40-year-old will be back in action on March 7 when Al-Nassr take on Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League.