Al Nassr face awkward Ronaldo repeat with Busquets pursuit

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 19 Feb 2023 13:18 GMT
• 3 min read

Al Nassr are keen to bring Sergio Busquets to Saudi Arabia from Barcelona at the end of the season, but his arrival could throw up a familiar problem.

Busquets is out of contract at Camp Nou this summer, and although his long-time teammate and current manager Xavi wants to keep him at the club, he has not signed fresh terms.

Barca also need to balance their books, and Busquets' €37 million a year wages before tax wouldn't be missed.

READ: Al Nassr make mega offer for Barcelona legend

Busquets could join Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr instead, although the Portuguese's arrival threw up a problem for the Saudi Pro League side, who are only allowed to have eight foreign players in their squad.

Aboubakar left 'angry'

Vincent Aboubakar decided to leave when Ronaldo arrived due to the competition in his position, but the fact he was Cameroonian means Al Nassr didn't try to stop him.

"I left a little angry because it was not easy," he told Talents d'Afrique on Canal+. "When Cristiano arrived, coach Rudi Garcia called me into his office and told me that normally an international player has to leave, it's either me or Jaloliddin Masharipov, either me or 'Pity'.

READ: Aboubakar: Ronaldo tried to persuade me to stay

"I told him that I already wanted to leave before and, honestly, as Cristiano was coming, my playing time would be reduced and it was better for me to leave."

Uzbek midfielder Masharipov or Argentina international Pity Martinez would appear to be the next on the chopping block, then, with Luiz Gustavo and Talisca (Brazil), Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast), Agustin Rossi (Argentina) and Alvaro Gonzalez (Spain) keeping Ronaldo and Busquets company next season.

Rossi is only on loan from Boca Juniors, however, so he could be the one to make way, although the club are understood to want to make the goalkeeper's deal permanent.