Ending weeks of speculation, Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr FC has confirmed that Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will not be playing in Goa in Wednesday’s AFC Champions League Two group match against Indian Super League club FC Goa.
The Saudi side arrived in Goa on Monday night ahead of the match that will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda. At a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Al-Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus said Ronaldo did not travel with the rest of the squad because he has been rested to manage his game time.
Despite Ronaldo’s absence, the Saudi Pro League side could still field a star-studded lineup, boasting the likes of former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, former Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder Joao Felix and former Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman. The match is expected to draw a massive crowd.
At least 600 police personnel have been deputed as part of the security arrangements for the high-profile match. Harishchandra V Madkaikar, who holds additional charge as South Goa Superintendent of Police, said a comprehensive security plan has been prepared.
“The Anti-Terrorist Squad, the Pink Force, police control room (PCR) vans, and an IRB (India Reserve Battalion) platoon will be deployed. A control room with CCTVs has been set up. An evacuation plan has been prepared for any contingency,” said Madkaikar.
It was in August that Al-Nassr and FC Goa were drawn in the same group in the second-tier competition of Asian club football. Since then, speculation has been rife regarding the potential for a first visit to India by Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
At Tuesday’s press conference, the Al-Nassr head coach said. “Everyone loves Cristiano and he has a lot of fans. We decided to give him a little rest…when we play outside Saudi Arabia, because we need to keep him [ready] physically. I know he is very popular and everyone wants to meet him… But we chose to keep him in Riyadh to prepare for the next game.”
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Jorge Jesus, who is from Portugal, also spoke about his country’s links to Goa. “I have come here to Goa with great pride as a Portuguese coach. Portugal has a history in this city. I remember when I was young in school, they taught us about Vasco da Gama, one of the great men in history. I am so happy to be here representing Portugal,” the coach said.
In a statement to the media on Monday, FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur said, “We have also been asked to remind all the spectators and the general public in Goa that this match is an official competition organised by the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) and not an exhibition game, and as such, FC Goa has no control over the decision making of Al-Nassr. As was promised with regards to the information of the participation of Cristiano Ronaldo in the game, we were informed by their club a few hours ago that it is highly unlikely, and to make arrangements for security, keeping that in mind.”
