When Bosses Draw the Line: Jesus Says No to Brozovic for Saudi King’s Cup Showdown

Brozovic Injury

The Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, head coach of Al-Nassr, has settled on the fate of his Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic regarding the King Cup Round of 16 clash with Al-Ittihad.

Al-Nassr will welcome their arch-rivals in a Saudi King’s Cup showdown on Tuesday evening at Al-Awwal Park as part of the Round of 16.

According to the Saudi daily Al-Yaom, Brozovic took part in team training after a full recovery from his injury, and medical checks in the last hours confirmed his fitness for competitive action.

The report added that Jesus refused to risk the Croatian and kept him out of the squad for the upcoming match.

Brozovic had personally asked to be included in the lineup for the Al-Nassr clash, but the Portuguese manager firmly declined to prevent any aggravation of the problem.

Thus the Croatian is among the players unavailable for the match, along with Abdulmalik Al-Jaber and Saad Al-Nasser, as they rehabilitate from recent injuries, with Sami Al-Naji also out due to not being fully match-ready.

Injury Update

Brozovic suffered a muscle injury in the 18th minute of his side’s clash with Al-Fateh last Saturday, in the fifth round of the Saudi league, which Al-Nassr won 5-1; he was substituted with Abdullah Al-Khibray coming on for him.

Following a minor tear in the adductor, he underwent a targeted medical and rehabilitation program, with an estimated absence of about one to two weeks depending on his response to treatment.

Consequently, Brozovic missed Al-Nassr’s match against Goa, India, played last Wednesday in the AFC Champions League group stage, which the Saudi side won 2-1.

Since arriving from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023, Brozovic has delivered a notable spell at the club, featuring 93 appearances, eight goals and twenty assists, underscoring his midfield influence with a balance of defense and attack.

The Croatian is viewed as a core pillar in the team’s setup, having established himself as a key midfielder with vast experience and the ability to control the tempo of play.

Brozovic’s move from the Italian league’s powerhouse to Al-Nassr carried with it a culture of tactical discipline and smart positioning learned in Serie A, giving the team a clear balance between defense and attack. Technically, he is the beating heart of Al-Nassr’s midfield, responsible for building attacks from the back and distributing passes with high precision to the wings or through balls, making him the essential link between the lines.

Former Star Bets on Victory

The former Al-Ittihad star Naif Hazazi backs the team to win the Derby against Al-Nassr in the King’s Cup Round of 16, speaking to Okaz newspaper. He expressed strong belief in the squad’s ability to progress, citing improvements since the Conceicao era and the leadership of top stars in the squad.

Hazazi emphasized that the current team has the quality to overcome the odds and reach the quarterfinals, noting the balance between attack and defence as a key strength.

He concluded with a line about expecting a big, showpiece clash that lives up to the occasion and to the big names involved, including Benzema and Ronaldo, as Saudi football continues to push for domestic supremacy.

King’s Cup Draw

The Round of 16 concludes on Tuesday, with the draw for the quarterfinals scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in the studios of Eight TV, per the competition’s official X handle. The round runs over Monday and Tuesday, boasting several high-profile ties and a marquee clash between Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr at the end of the round at Al-Awwal Park. The other fixture list includes Gulf vs. Cooperation, Fateh vs. Riyadh, Al-Khudhud vs. Al-Najm, and more, with the quarterfinals shaping a crescendo of Saudi football’s domestic calendar.

Al-Ittihad captured the previous edition by beating Al-Qadisiya 3-1 in the final, lifting their sixth King’s Cup title; Al-Hilal lead the all-time roll of honour with nine, followed by Al-Ahli with eight and Al-Nassr with five, as both clubs chase more glory in the domestic arena.