Cristiano Ronaldo will depart Saudi Arabia for Spain to undergo treatment for a hamstring problem that has proven worse than initially thought, his club has confirmed.
Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus revealed on Friday that medical examinations had uncovered the true extent of the 41-year-old's muscle injury.
"After tests, we see the injury suffered by Cristiano Ronaldo was more serious than expected," Jesus stated.
"Cristiano will now travel to Spain, like other players who went for treatment when they were injured."
The Portuguese star requires specialist care in Madrid from his personal therapist, with the World Cup looming on the horizon.
"His injury required treatment in Madrid with his personal therapist, and we hope he returns quickly and helps the team," the manager added.
Ronaldo picked up the injury during Al-Nassr's 3-1 victory against Al-Fayha last Saturday, and concerns have since mounted over the severity of the muscle issue.
Cristiano Ronaldo will depart Saudi Arabia for Spain to undergo treatment for a hamstring problem that has proven worse than initially thought, his club has confirmed
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The Portuguese forward, who commands an extraordinary daily wage of £488,000 at the Saudi Pro League outfit, had sparked speculation about his location earlier this week.
Questions arose after his £61million private aircraft was tracked leaving the country during the early hours of Monday morning.
However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was subsequently confirmed to still be in Saudi Arabia when photographs emerged showing him alongside his teammates.
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Ronaldo resides in Riyadh with his partner Georgina Rodriguez and their five children, a city that has found itself in the crosshairs of Iranian military action.
Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes across the Gulf following a wave of attacks by the United States and Israel that commenced last Saturday.
The American embassy in the Saudi capital sustained damage from two drone strikes during the overnight hours on Monday.
Iranian state media also reported the destruction of a command and staff facility in Bahrain.
Saudi Arabian forces intercepted and destroyed three unmanned aircraft east of Riyadh on Friday as Iranian attacks continued throughout the region.
Cristiano Ronaldo faces an anxious wait over his fitness after being forced off | GETTYMeanwhile, Israeli Defence Forces reportedly struck and destroyed the underground bunker of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei in Tehran.
Foreign nationals have been departing the Middle East in significant numbers amid the escalating tensions, with the US State Department advising Americans to leave more than a dozen countries in the region due to safety concerns.
Flight tracking data revealed Ronaldo's Bombardier Global Express aircraft completed the journey of nearly seven hours to the Spanish capital.
The luxury jet, which the footballer acquired in 2024 for £61million after selling his previous Gulfstream G200, departed at 8pm Saudi time and touched down at approximately 1am Spanish time.
The Flightradar24 service showed the all-black aircraft's route took it across Egyptian airspace and over the Mediterranean Sea before landing in Madrid.