Featured Image Credit: PA/Alamy
Topics: Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia, Manchester United
Alex Brotherton
Topics: Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Arabia, Manchester United
Al-Nassr star Anderson Talisca has signed a new long-term contract with the club after moving on from a row with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr have drawn worldwide attention since they signed Ronaldo at the end of last year, so it may come as a surprise to some that the Portuguese superstar hasn't been their most important player this season.
That honour belongs to Brazilian forward Talisca, who joined the Saudi Arabian side in 2021 after enjoying successful stints in Turkey and China.
Advert
Talisca scored an impressive 20 goals in his first season in Riyadh, and this term he is the club's top scorer.
The 29-year-old has found the back of the net 16 times in 16 league games this season, although Ronaldo is hot on his heels with 11 goals in nine matches.
Talisca is the joint-top scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season alongside former Manchester United and Watford striker Odion Ighalo.
Advert
The Brazilian has now penned a new long-term contract with the club until 2026, with the player announcing on social media that "the story continues."
It seems logical that Talisca would want to stick around at Al-Nassr, given his red-hot form and the unique opportunity to play and train with Ronaldo every week.
However, there were concerns earlier this season when the pair appeared to fall out when Ronaldo scored his first goal for the club.
The strike came from the penalty spot, but only after Ronaldo had taken the ball off his younger teammate.
Advert
Understandably, Talisca wasn't best pleased. After the match he commented on Ronaldo's Instagram post, calling him an "angry dude."
Thankfully for Al-Nassr fans, that all looks to be water under the bridge now.
With eight games of the season remaining the Knights of Najd are currently second in the table, one point behind leaders Al-Ittihad.
If they are to win the title and progress to the final of the King's Cup - they face Al-Wehda in the semi-finals - then Ronaldo and Talisca will need to be firing on all cylinders.