Cristiano Ronaldo is gearing up for a new season with Al-Nassr, aiming to dethrone Al-Hilal, the reigning champions of the Saudi Pro League. After joining Al-Nassr in December 2022, Ronaldo is yet to clinch a domestic trophy with the team. The Portuguese legend took to social media earlier this week to reaffirm his commitment, writing: “New season, same goal.”
Al-Hilal dominated last season, securing 31 victories and three draws, ultimately finishing 14 points ahead of second-place Al-Nassr. Most recently, Al-Hilal delivered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Ronaldo’s squad in the Saudi Super Cup final. The 18-team league is set to kick off its season this Thursday, and the competition is already thick with anticipation.
“I’m feeling a lot of apprehension because this season is going to be very difficult,” admitted Al-Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly in an interview with The Associated Press. Koulibaly, who signed from Chelsea last year, added, “Last year, it was a tough championship, but we managed to come out on top. This year, all the teams will be gunning to beat Al-Hilal.”
The previous summer saw a flurry of high-profile transfers from Europe’s elite leagues to Saudi Arabia, in part drawn by the chance to play alongside Ronaldo. According to Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, a staggering $957 million was spent on new talent.
This year’s transfer window, while quieter, remains open until September 2nd. For Al-Hilal, the return of Neymar, who has been sidelined since October with a serious left knee injury, will feel like a significant new signing. Neymar’s journey back to full fitness has been long-awaited by his teammates. “Neymar’s return is highly anticipated by our players,” Koulibaly said. “We know that there is still a little bit of waiting due to his injury, but people will see a great Neymar. He still has this motivation when we see him in training.”
Neymar resumed training last month and, according to local media, could make his on-field return as early as September. During Neymar’s absence last season, Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic stepped up, scoring 28 league goals, second only to Ronaldo’s impressive 35. Al-Hilal also boasts other star players, including Portuguese international Ruben Neves and Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
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On the other side, Al-Nassr’s key signing thus far has been Brazilian goalkeeper Bento, who replaces Colombian international David Ospina. Equipped with talents like Ronaldo, Senegalese star Sadio Mane, Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, and Spain’s European champion defender Aymeric Laporte, Al-Nassr has fortified its lineup significantly.
Other formidable contenders in the league are Jeddah-based clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad. Al-Ahli, spearheaded by Riyad Mahrez, and Al-Ittihad, strengthened by Karim Benzema, have made impressive moves in the transfer market. Al-Ittihad, for instance, made headlines with their acquisition of French winger Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa for over $60 million, the most considerable signing in the current window. All four of these clubs, now under the stewardship of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund since 2023, are amongst the most highly supported teams in the country.
League officials are hoping for a more competitive title race this season, which could boost average attendance numbers. Last season, the average attendance was just over 8,000 spectators per game. A tightly contested league could be the catalyst needed to attract more fans to the stadiums.
Al-Hilal’s ambitions, however, are not confined to domestic success. The team is set to represent Asia in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, beginning June 15 in the United States. The Riyadh-based club made it to the final of the 2022 tournament but fell short against Real Madrid. “What will be expected going into that competition is that it’s going to be Neymar’s team,” Koulibaly stated. “So we’re going to do everything in training so that he’s out there and in his best conditions to help us win trophies.”
As Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal poised to clash in arguably one of the most exciting seasons in the league’s history, Ronaldo’s quest to topple Al-Hilal and Neymar’s comeback will be closely watched storylines. Both teams, along with their fiercely competitive counterparts, make this season one not to be missed.
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