Jorge Jesus makes first big call leaving two Cristiano Ronaldo teammates out of Al Nassr’s preseason squad
The Jorge Jesus era is officially underway at Al Nassr, with high expectations for the Portuguese coach to bring his winning pedigree in Saudi Arabia back to the club. As his first major move, Jesus has left two of Cristiano Ronaldo’s teammates out of the club’s preseason squad.
Al Nassr’s preseason preparations have begun with a training camp in Austria, where players and staff are gathering to kick off the 2025–26 campaign. But when the official squad list was announced, two surprising absences caught the attention of fans and media alike.
Star defender Aymeric Laporte and midfielder Otavio were notably excluded from the traveling squad. According to Saudi outlet Al-Riyadh, new manager Jorge Jesus made the decision for “technical reasons,” leaving both the Spanish and Portuguese internationals behind.
The move sent shockwaves through the Al Nassr fanbase, as both players had been regular contributors. Despite dealing with injuries, Laporte made 30 appearances last season and scored five goals across all competitions. Otavio, meanwhile, featured in 40 matches, tallying one goal and eight assists.
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the club’s marquee players, is expected to join the squad in Austria on July 20, along with star defender Mohamed Simakan. The absence of two key veterans suggests Jesus is already reshaping the roster, possibly to free up space for new foreign signings.
Laporte and Otavio’s future in the air
Laporte’s status at Al Nassr had already been in question following the end of last season, particularly after being benched by then-coach Stefano Pioli. Now, with both him and Otavio left out of preseason plans, the writing may be on the wall for their exits.
In Laporte’s case, Fabrizio Romano reports that Athletic Club has submitted an initial verbal proposal to Al Nassr for the defender. The Spanish international previously spent the bulk of his career in Bilbao, and with strong personal ties to the city, a return to La Liga seems increasingly likely.
As for Otavio, Matteo Moretto revealed that Al Qadsiah expressed interest in the Portuguese midfielder earlier this month. His preseason omission only adds fuel to speculation that a move is imminent. If both players depart, Al Nassr would free up two valuable foreign player slots—potentially paving the way for a marquee European addition.