Ronaldo and Mane will make Boniface heartbreaker sit on the bench - Saudi Pro League expert

Ronaldo and Mane will make Boniface heartbreaker sit on the bench - Saudi Pro League expert

Hassan Abdulsalam 15:35 - 03.02.2025

Saudi Pro League expert Paul Robinson confirmed that any player that joined Al-Nassr will struggle to have a playing time.

Saudi Pro League expert Paul Robinson has claimed that any player joining Al-Nassr will struggle for playing time, stressing that Jhon Duran will find it difficult to break into the starting XI at his new club.

Al-Nassr were on the verge of sealing a deal to sign Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface before the deal went off.

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According to Robinson, Jhon Duran's big-money move to Al-Nassr may not yield the desired results, as he is expected to spend most of his time on the bench.

What Robinson said

Speaking on Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Robinson insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane are guaranteed starters, leaving little room for Duran in the starting XI.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 917th goal.

"Duran's move is an interesting one for me. He's gone to Cristiano Ronaldo's team and Ronaldo plays as a number nine, week in week out, regardless of who they're playing against, it's very unlikely he's rotated out,” he said.

With Ronaldo playing as the number nine, Duran will likely be forced to play on the right-hand side, a position already occupied by Angelo, the young Brazilian.

"Mane plays on the left and Ronaldo always plays as a nine. They don't play with two strikers, so how it would've been sold to Duran, I don't know,” he explained.

Robinson questioned Duran's decision to leave Aston Villa, where he was a regular starter, for Al-Nassr, where he will likely spend most of his time on the bench.

"Mane is playing really well this season, so they're not going to rotate him out. Ronaldo plays regardless, so forget that unless he's injured,” he concluded.

The 21-year-old might be forced to play from the right wing instead of his natural position.

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