Postecoglou delays Al Nassr departures decision until end of Portugal camp

Ange Postecoglou has given Al Nassr’s players one final opportunity to prove they should remain at the club before the squad is reshaped ahead of the new season.

The Australian manager has told Al Nassr’s administrative staff that he wants to postpone the announcement of the players who will leave until the team completes its overseas training camp in Lisbon, according to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiah.

Postecoglou will make his final decisions after Al Nassr play their last friendly in Portugal and return to Riyadh. Players identified as surplus to requirements could leave either through permanent transfers or loans.

The timing gives members of the current squad an extended chance to impress the manager during the closing stages of the camp. The list of departures will be confirmed only once the team has completed its scheduled preparation matches and returned to Saudi Arabia.

Al Nassr’s management has also decided that no player will be allowed to leave on a free loan during the coming season. The policy will apply particularly to those on sizeable salaries, with the club unwilling to continue carrying the financial burden associated with their contracts while they play elsewhere.

The Riyadh-based side began its training camp in Lisbon on 19 July and has played two friendly matches so far.

Their opening fixture ended in a 2-1 defeat by Benfica’s reserve team. Al Nassr then responded with a 2-0 victory over Spanish side Merida.

The club’s third friendly is scheduled for Saturday against Portuguese team Estrela Amadora. Al Nassr will then complete its Portugal camp with a match against Spanish club Almeria next Tuesday.

Those fixtures will provide Postecoglou with further opportunities to assess his squad before deciding which players remain part of his plans and which must seek new clubs, either permanently or temporarily.

Al Nassr are due to begin the new season in approximately two weeks. Their first competitive match will take place on 15 August, when they face Al Fateh in the opening round of the Roshn Saudi League.

The decision on the departures is therefore expected before the start of the league campaign, as Postecoglou seeks to settle the composition of his squad following the club’s pre-season preparations in Portugal.