Cristiano Ronaldo returned from vacation and rejoined the Al Nassr squad to prepare for the 2025-26 season, with their preseason tour kicking off in Austria and several friendlies on the calendar. However, both Ronaldo and the Saudi side have been hit with unexpected news, as they are now forced to cut their European camp short and cancel a scheduled match against Al Ahli.
Al Nassr had based their summer training camp in Saalfelden, a quiet Austrian town near the German border, home to just 16,000 residents. Known for its tranquil environment away from the spotlight, the team had planned to stay from July 20 to August 4, with three preseason friendlies on the agenda.
But adverse weather conditions in Saalfelden have forced the club to make a sudden change. Henning Rießelmann, managing director of the agency Onside, which organized the training camp, confirmed the news to Sky Sports Deutschland, revealing the team’s decision to depart early.
“Al Nassr are ending the training camp in Saalfelden earlier than planned. Due to the ongoing rainfall in the Salzburg region, the club will leave Austria ahead of schedule. Departure is planned for Wednesday evening,” Rießelmann announced.
He also confirmed that the upcoming friendly against fellow Saudi side Al Ahli has been called off: “Unfortunately, the friendly match scheduled for August 2 has to be canceled. We ask for your understanding regarding the circumstances and apologize for the inconvenience.”
see also
Comparison: Cristiano Ronaldo’s $244 million salary at Al Nassr vs. Joao Felix’s new contract
One friendly left for Ronaldo in Austria
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr’s camp a few days later than his teammates, enjoying additional time off after helping Portugal win the UEFA Nations League. He arrived just one day before the first preseason match against Austrian club St. Johann and was left out of the squad for that game to focus on training.
With the Al Ahli match canceled, only one friendly remains on the Austrian tour. Al Nassr will face French side Toulouse on Wednesday, and according to local reports, Ronaldo is expected to make his preseason debut at the Untersberg-Arena in Grödig before the team departs on August 2.
