“Isn’t just good enough”, “This will cost us” – Al-Nassr fans unhappy with Cristiano Ronaldo teammate’s inclusion in XI for Al-Ittihad clash

Al-Nassr fans have expressed their concern following the decision of coach Jorge Jesus to name goalkeeper Bento alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and co. in the XI to face Al-Ittihad. The Knights of Najd are set to lock horns with their rivals in the King’s Cup, with a place in the quarterfinals on the line.

Jorge Jesus has opted to designate certain players for cup games since his arrival at the club in the summer, and Brazil international Bento falls into the category. The 26-year-old has played just once in the league this season, with Nawaf Al-Aqidi preferred to man the goal in the Saudi Pro League. He has, however, played in all of his side’s games outside of the league this season, keeping three clean sheets in four appearances.

Bento keeps his place in the XI for the visit of Al-Ittihad in the Round of 16 of the tournament, having kept a clean sheet in the previous round against Jeddah. The decision to start the former Atletico Paranaense man has been met with concern by the club’s fans, who are unhappy with the choice. A section of these fans have opted to air their grievances on X.

A fan complained that the goalkeeper does not have the quality to play in big games.

Another fan questioned the decision to start the goalkeeper, pointing to the fact that he gets nervous in big games as a potential problem.

A fan expressed the disappointment by asking why the goalkeeper was named in the starting XI.

Another fan also questioned the decision to start the Brazilian.

Bento has conceded one goal in four cup games for Al-Nassr this season amid a superb run of form from Jorge Jesus’ side. They have faced Al-Ittihad once this season, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane finding the net in the 2-0 win back in September.

Al-Nassr star Cristiano Ronaldo makes FIFPro World XI shortlist

Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been named among the players to compete for this year’s FIFPro World XI, joining 25 other players. The 40-year-old has been nominated for his displays between July 2024 and August 2025, primarily the entirety of the 2024-25 season.

Cristiano Ronaldo won the Golden Boot in the Saudi Pro League for a second successive season in 2024-25 following a tally of 25 goals in 30 appearances for Al-Nassr. He also led Portugal to win the UEFA Nations League in June 2025, defeating Spain in the final of the tournament.

A pool of over 20,000 footballers will vote for the players who will emerge on this year’s XI from the 26 nominees, which includes Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappe, among others. Three players will be picked in defence, midfield, and attack, along with one goalkeeper. The final spot in the XI will go to whichever player tallies the most votes out of the remaining ones.

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Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.

Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.

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