English Premier League
Postecoglou trims Al Nassr training camp squad as four youngsters sent back to Riyadh
Al Nassr head coach Ange Postecoglou has released four youth-team players from the club’s overseas training camp in Lisbon and instructed they return to Riyadh after completing their temporary spell with the first team, according to Saudi media reports.
Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadia, citing sources inside the club, reported on Friday that the Australian has decided to end the participation of the quartet from the youth ranks in the external pre-season camp.
The players concerned are Maher Tawashi, Fawaz Mashhour, Nawaf Al Shammari and Fares Youssef, who had been drafted into the squad for the Lisbon camp to bolster numbers.
Postecoglou has now told the club’s administrative staff to arrange for the four players to head back to Riyadh, with their role in the Portuguese training phase considered complete.
The decision comes as Al Nassr’s senior squad has been restored to full strength following the return of the club’s international players, who had been granted extended leave after recent duty with their national teams at the 2026 World Cup.
Lisbon camp and warm-up matches
Al Nassr arrived in Portugal on Monday to begin the second phase of their preparations for the new season, setting up base in Lisbon for an overseas camp.
The Saudi Pro League side have already played their first friendly of the tour, facing Benfica’s B team on Wednesday in a training match consisting of two halves of 30 minutes each, for a total of 60 minutes.
Al Nassr were beaten 2-1 in that game, with midfielder Abdulmalik Al Jaber scoring their only goal in the fourth minute.
During the remainder of the Lisbon camp, Al Nassr are scheduled to play three further friendly fixtures as Postecoglou continues to shape his squad and build match fitness ahead of the new campaign.
The team will meet Spanish club Merida on 28 July, before taking on Portuguese side Estrela Amadora on 1 August.
Al Nassr will then conclude their series of friendlies against Spanish outfit Almeria on 4 August, rounding off the on-pitch programme of their Portuguese pre-season phase before returning to Saudi Arabia.
