Nassr’s Title Run: Noor Declares Them The Team To Beat This Season (With One Hidden Risk)

Mohammed Noor’s Verdict on Al-Nassr’s Title Quest

Mohammed Noor, a former Al-Ittihad legend, praised the level at which Al-Nassr is performing in the Saudi Pro League this season, calling them the clear title favorite.

Al-Nassr sit top of the Roshen Pro League table with 15 points from five games, following a resounding 5-1 win over Al-Fateh and an earlier 2-0 victory over reigning champions Al-Ittihad in the fourth round classic.

In a TV interview, Noor said the high level of performances makes Al-Nassr the strongest to win the league, adding that they have a strong, entertaining, and well-balanced squad in all positions, plus a motivated coach who guides from the first minute.

The Injury Risk That Could Dim The Dream

Noor warned of the risk that injuries could derail the team’s flawless start, calling it the biggest challenge facing the squad and the coach.

He noted that it will be a real test for the coach to provide viable alternatives to cover the absence of key players.

Al-Nassr had already lost the services of Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic after an early injury in the match with Al-Fateh, with a likely absence from the upcoming Clasico against Al-Ittihad in the cup next week.

Felix Shines, Inzaghi’s Work Behind The Scenes

Noor also praised the performances of Al-Nassr’s Portuguese star Joao Felix, considering him the league’s standout player for the moment thanks to his top-tier technical work for the team.

He refused to compare Felix with Libyan former star Tarik El Taib, explaining that Felix delights for the team’s benefit rather than for personal showmanship.

Haaland? Not Quite — It’s Inzaghi And The Hilal Cohesion

Turning to Al-Hilal, Noor stressed that Italian coach Simone Inzaghi is delivering solid football and has built a cohesive unit among the players.

He added that results reflect a smart utilization of players consistent with the coach’s plan, and he praised the chemistry between Brazilian Marcus Leonardo and Uruguayan Darwin Nunez as contributing positively to the team’s attacking output.

However, Noor expressed reservations about Salem Al-Dawsari’s reduced role in Hilal’s attacking system, remarking that having the best player in Asia and not leveraging him optimally is something hard to understand.

Special Reward For Cancelo

Hilal is reportedly planning a reward for Portuguese star Joao Cancelo after he apologized to the club following the controversy over his exclusion from the domestic list.

Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadia quoted that Cancelo has apologized for his earlier reaction and is set to return to group training ahead of forthcoming fixtures, with coach Inzaghi moving to reinstate him on the domestic list in January after his rehabilitation progresses.

A Mysterious Departure That Raises Questions

Cancelo reportedly left Riyadh last Friday with his family to an unknown destination, prompting wide speculation among Hilal fans about the reasons behind the departure and whether it is temporary or a harbinger of a permanent exit.

The Saudi newspaper Al-Yawm noted that the move came at a delicate time, as Cancelo remains early in his rehab following the muscle injury sustained against Al-Duhail on September 19 in the Asian Champions Elite, with no indication that his fitness or readiness were compromised.

The club had announced on September 21 that Cancelo needed an eight-week treatment and rehab program, prompting the management to replace him with Brazilian Marcus Leonardo on the domestic list. Cancelo is currently in the final phase of rehabilitation to recover from the muscle injury sustained against Al-Duhail, a match Hilal won 2-1.

Punchline time: If this season’s title race were a sniper shot, Noor would be whispering, and the trophy would be dropping from the sky. Second punchline: My calendar tried to schedule a reminder for the Roshen Pro League, but even it missed the kickoff while I was busy googling who Joao Felix is in 2025.”