Al-Nassr has made a strong start to the new Saudi Pro League campaign, but the road ahead for Cristiano Ronaldo has suddenly become more complicated. Two upcoming opponents have received important news that could strengthen their squads at exactly the wrong time for the Riyadh giants, adding another layer of intrigue to the early weeks of the title race.
The developments come as the Saudi Pro League continues to tighten its financial controls while clubs attempt to complete their summer recruitment. For Ronaldo and Al-Nassr, the timing is particularly significant with Al-Riyadh waiting on Friday and Al-Ettifaq scheduled to face the defending champions next week.
The first major development concerns Al-Riyadh, which has received approval to register Ivorian midfielder Kader Keita. The defensive midfielder is set to take the place of Senegalese striker Mamadou Sylla in the club's registered squad after the necessary financial approval was granted.
According to Al-Riyadh newspaper, the league has given the green light for Keita's registration, allowing the midfielder to become available for selection. Keita, who was born in November 2000 and has a French-Ivorian background, arrives after a spell with Romanian club Rapid București. His arrival gives Al-Riyadh another physical and defensive option in midfield ahead of its meeting with Al-Nassr.
The timing could hardly be more interesting. Al-Riyadh suffered a 4-2 defeat to Al-Ettifaq in its opening league match, but it responded by beating Al-Zulfi 2-0 in the King's Cup, meaning the club will enter Friday's clash with renewed confidence.
Al-Ettifaq also gets green light for Larsson
The second boost involves Al-Ettifaq and Swedish forward Jordan Larsson, whose move to the club had been held up by financial restrictions. The club has now received approval from the Financial Control Committee to proceed with the signing from Copenhagen.
Larsson had reportedly agreed to join Al-Ettifaq in a deal worth around $1.5 million, with the proposed contract running until June 2029. The 28-year-old had already completed his medical and arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, leaving the registration process as the major obstacle.
The approval means Al-Ettifaq can now move closer to having another attacking option available. That could prove especially important ahead of its meeting with Al-Nassr on August 25, just four days after Ronaldo's side faces Al-Riyadh.
Why the registrations were delayed
The two developments are linked to the Saudi Pro League's increasingly strict financial regulations. The Financial Control Committee has introduced spending controls that limit first-team expenditure to 75% of a club's revenue, with the remaining funds directed toward areas such as youth development and infrastructure.
Those restrictions have already created complications for several clubs attempting to complete their transfer business. Al-Ettifaq's inability to finalize Larsson's registration is one example, while Al-Riyadh also needed approval before officially adding Keïta to its squad.
Ronaldo's Al-Nassr faces tougher challenges
For Al-Nassr, the news represents a double headache at the beginning of a campaign in which the club is expected to challenge for every major domestic trophy. Ange Postecoglou's side began the league season impressively with a 3-0 victory over Al-Fateh and subsequently defeated Al-Diriyah 4-1 in the King's Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al-Nassr FC competes for the ball with Ahmed Al-Julaydan of team Al-Ittihad FC
Ronaldo's presence gives Al-Nassr an obvious advantage, particularly after the Portuguese superstar returned to the squad following his extended break. However, having to face opponents who have just gained additional squad options could make the early schedule more demanding.
Al-Riyadh will now have Keita available as it attempts to produce an upset in Friday's Riyadh derby. Al-Ettifaq, meanwhile, could potentially have Larsson available by the time it welcomes Al-Nassr on August 25.
