Between discipline and dereliction: why did Messi return for Inter Miami while Ronaldo misses out with Al-Nassr?

Al-Nassr, by contrast, face more than two weeks without a competitive fixture. Their Saudi Roshn League campaign kicks off on 15 August against Al-Fateh.

Ronaldo wasn’t the only one missing from Al-Nassr’s camp. Compatriot Joao Felix joined him, along with Senegal’s Sadio Mane, who exited the World Cup with his national team in the round of 32, and Abdulelah Al-Amri, despite Saudi Arabia’s group-stage exit.

Saudi press reports point to new Al-Nassr boss Ange Postecoglou as the man behind the decision. The Australian handed the players extra rest after the World Cup to stave off fatigue before the new season begins.

Postecoglou stays in constant contact with the group, according to those reports. He has asked them to undergo physical tests and measurements, follow a tailored programme of moderate effort, and report the results to him daily so he can gauge their readiness.

All four are expected to link up with the camp within the next few hours, gearing up for a season in which Al-Nassr want to retain the Roshn League title and be crowned champions of the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time.