Cristiano Ronaldo is set to leave Saudi Arabia after an injury amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The 41-year-old’s whereabouts had been questioned after his £61million private jet left the country in the middle of the night on Monday. However, it was later confirmed that he was still in Saudi Arabia after being photographed with his teammates.
The former Manchester United star has been battling a hamstring injury following Al-Nassr’s 3-1 win over Al-Fayha on Saturday, and it has now been revealed that his injury is serious, with the World Cup fast approaching.
‘After tests, we see the injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo was more serious than expected,’ Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus said on Friday. ‘Cristiano will now travel to Spain, like other players who went for treatment when they were injured.
‘His injury required treatment in Madrid with his personal therapist, and we hope he returns quickly and helps the team’.
Riyadh, where Ronaldo lives with partner Georgina Rodriguez and his five children, has been targeted by Iran in retaliation for the wave of attacks by the US and Israel that began on Saturday.
The US embassy in the Saudi capital was hit by two drones overnight on Monday, and Iranian state media claimed a command and staff building in Bahrain had also been destroyed.
On Friday, meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it had destroyed three drones east of Riyadh as Iran pressed on with attacks across the Gulf.