Weight gain triggers a strict wake-up call from Jorge Jesus at Al Nassr
15 October 2025
What happened
The Brazilian winger Wesley Gasova of Al Nassr sparked a sharp response from his Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus after a noticeable weight gain was observed.
According to the Saudi daily Al-Yom, Jesus took a firm stance toward the young Brazilian, deciding to impose a specialized training program to restore full physical readiness ahead of upcoming commitments.
Gasova rejoined the club’s training last Saturday after returning from Brazil’s Under-20 team, and immediately underwent fitness tests in preparation for future matches, with Jesus placing emphasis on the midfielder’s role and his ability to connect the lines and unlock attacks.
Jesus stressed the importance of Gasova’s adherence to the intensive conditioning plan, which includes extra morning and evening sessions supervised by the conditioning staff to ensure he returns to top form before the Saudi Pro League resumes.
Gasova joined the capital club’s training on the previous Saturday after his return from the Brazil U-20 duty, undergoing fitness tests in preparation for potential involvement in the next fixtures, given Jesus’s keen interest in his midfield mastery and ability to link play and create chances.
The club is now gearing up for a clash with Al Fateh on Saturday at The First Park, as part of the fifth round of the Saudi Pro League.
Gasova had joined Al Nassr in summer 2024 from Corinthians, but had only one goal in 24 appearances; he scored on November 5 last year against Al Ain in the AFC Champions League group stage. He later rediscovered his scoring touch, ending a 316-day drought with a goal against Istiklol Dushanbe at The First Park in the opening match of the ACL group stage.
Under Jesus, Gasova’s development has shown notable progress; the club has conceded just four goals in the first nine matches, a rate well below a goal per game—an impressive start by his standards with a new club.
The season began strongly for the Riyadh giants, who advanced past Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final despite a numerical disadvantage, but then fell to Al Ahli on penalties in the final.
In the league, Jesus’s side sat top of the table with 12 points from four games, having scored 25 goals and conceded only one. They recorded convincing wins over Al Taawon, Al Khaleej, and Al Riyadh, and also defeated Al Ittihad in the Clasico, a result that contributed to the exit of French coach Laurent Blanc.
On the continental front, Al Nassr opened the AFC Champions League 2 with a 5-0 victory over Istiklol Dushanbe and followed up with a 2-0 win against Al Zawraa, signaling the team’s intent to compete at a high level. In the domestic cup, the world began with a 4-0 win over Jeddah, extending a seven-match winning streak as Jesus seeks a double-digit run.
The schedule remains packed. Al Nassr are set to face Al Fateh on Oct 18, then a continental date on Oct 22, followed by Al Hazm on Oct 25 in the Pro League, as they push to sustain momentum and solidify a new identity under their seasoned Portuguese coach.
There is little time for rest, as the squad prepares for an October 28 date with Al Ittihad in the King’s Cup round of 16, before a quick turnaround to face Al-Fayha 48 hours later in the league—an intense period demanding peak physical and tactical focus.
Golden opportunity
Jesus has a genuine chance to reach 10 consecutive wins with Al Nassr, a feat he has achieved multiple times with his former clubs. The coach’s defense has been a standout, conceding only four goals in the first nine matches across all competitions, a rare statistic in the early phase of his managerial stints.
Two punchlines for good measure: If discipline counted as goals, Gasova would already be on a hat-trick; and if weight were a transfer fee, the club would have signed a small arsenal by now.
