Cristiano Ronaldo could reportedly suffer a change of venue for the next game between Al Nassr and Al Hilal for the 2026-27 Saudi Pro League, moving the derby away from Al Awwal Park. Cristiano Ronaldo will once again see Al Hilal stand as his primary obstacle in pursuit of the Saudi Pro League title during the 2026-27 campaign. However, a sudden logistical shift is set to alter their upcoming showdown, as the Al Nassr captain reportedly faces a venue change that takes the marquee fixture away from Al Awwal Park. Al Nassr and Al Hilal currently sit atop the SPL table after winning all four of their opening fixtures, setting the stage for another head-to-head battle for the domestic crown. The first league derby between the two rivals was originally scheduled for Friday, December 11, with Al Nassr hosting at Al Awwal Park, but league organizers are preparing a major relocation. According to reporting from Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah, the Saudi Pro League is moving to relocate the capital derby between Al Nassr and Al Hilal to King Fahd Sports City Stadium. While the match remains in Riyadh, the venue change removes the contest from Al Nassr’s primary home ground. The initiative behind the move serves as an “operational test” for the facility ahead of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. With the continental tournament hosted across Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027, King Fahd Sports City Stadium is scheduled to host four matches, including the tournament final. A general view of the King Fahd International Stadium. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) King Fahd Stadium, a favorable venue for Al Hilal While the venue change has not yet been officially finalized by the league, the Saudi Pro League is expected to contact Al Nassr to coordinate logistics while maintaining the club’s administrative home-team privileges. However, King Fahd Sports City Stadium represents a favorable venue not for the nominal hosts, but for visiting rivals Al Hilal. Since Ronaldo arrived in Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr and Al Hilal have met twice at King Fahd Sports City Stadium, with Al Hilal serving as the home team on both occasions. Their first encounter on Matchday 25 of the 2022-23 SPL season resulted in a 2-0 victory for Al Hilal, followed by a commanding 3-0 win for Al Hilal on Matchday 15 of the 2023-24 campaign. Cristiano Ronaldo during the SPL match vs. Al Hilal at King Fahd International Stadium on December 1, 2023. (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) Al Nassr could lose a key home advantage King Fahd Sports City Stadium is reopening in late 2026 following a venue expansion that increases capacity from 58,398 to 70,200 seats, leaving Al Nassr to negotiate ticketing terms to ensure maximum home supporter allocation. Nevertheless, departing Al Awwal Park strips the squad of a distinct home-field edge based on recent domestic form. During the 2025-26 SPL season, where Ronaldo secured his first major silverware in Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr finished as the top home team in the league. Across 17 home fixtures at Al Awwal Park, the Riyadh side compiled 15 wins, one draw, and just one defeat to gather 46 points, surpassing Al Ahli’s 45-point home mark and establishing Al Awwal Park as a fortress for Ronaldo and company.
Leaving the door open for a return after he retires, Luka Modric revealed that Jose Mourinho was the "most important factor" for him to arrive to Real Madrid. Luka Modric established himself as one of the most influential midfielders in soccer history during his decorated tenure at Real Madrid, leaving a standard that the club has found difficult to replicate. While leaving the door open for a post-retirement return to the Bernabeu, Modric revealed that Jose Mourinho was the “most important factor” in bringing him to the Spanish capital. Following four standout seasons at Tottenham Hotspur where he consolidated his status among Europe’s elite orchestrators, Modric joined Real Madrid in 2012 for a €35 million ($40.6 million USD) fee. Initially, the transfer drew skepticism from critics due to the Croatian’s lower public profile, but as he locked down a starting role, he evolved into a club legend, a trajectory he insists would have been impossible without Mourinho’s intervention. In an interview with Diario Marca, when asked who supporters should credit for his arrival at Real Madrid, Modric singled out the Portuguese manager’s persistence: “The club in general, but I think Mourinho was the most important factor in my arrival, because he did everything, everything in his power so that I would be the signing of that summer.“ Modric elaborated on the manager’s pivotal role in pushing the deal over the finish line. “Madrid brought in (Michael) Essien on loan and only me as a signing. The negotiation with Tottenham was not easy. It was hard and long. And if Mourinho had not been so insistent, maybe Madrid would have withdrawn from the negotiation. But he was insistent and he wanted me. That is why I think he was the most important,” he added. Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho talks to Luka Modric. (Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images) Modric also acknowledged the role of club president Florentino Perez and expressed deep affection for him, while maintaining that “Mourinho was the first, and I will always be grateful for that treatment, for that affection from day one.” At the time, Mourinho was entering his third season at the helm of Real Madrid having already secured three trophies. However, the 2012-13 campaign proved to be Mourinho’s final year in Madrid after ending without a major trophy and falling in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, leaving Modric wishing for more time under his guidance. “The only pity was that I didn’t play under him for more than a year. But well, that’s life. I learned a lot in that year with him, but I would have liked to play for him for a longer time,” the Croatian midfielder noted. Modric to return to Madrid Currently under contract through June 2027 with AC Milan, Modric laughed off the idea of a playing return to Real Madrid under Mourinho’s current tenure, noting that “it’s too late now.” However, he made clear that he intends to settle in the Spanish capital after his playing days, with an eventual executive or administrative role at Real Madrid topping his list of desires. When asked about returning to the club after hanging up his boots, Modric openly shared his ambitions: “I hope so. I would like to. To be honest, I don’t need to hide it. Madrid is my home and of course one day I would like to return. But we will see how and in what role, if that happens.“ The veteran midfielder emphasized that if he eventually returns, he wants to make a meaningful impact rather than relying on his legacy, adopting a mindset to “work not in Real Madrid, but for Real Madrid.” He echoed Mourinho’s philosophy that any future role should focus on making the club even bigger. Regarding his long-term personal plans, Modric remains committed to returning to Spain, even if his exact post-career path remains undecided. “My intention is to return to Madrid and live there, but then you know how things go. You can never say anything with certainty. But hopefully, hopefully it happens,” he concluded.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Filiman-ndiaye-duplicated-email-sportmole-6a80b1713f5aa292327234.jpg)