Talisca Reflects on His Time with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr

Anderson Talisca began his professional journey in Brazil with Bahia before transitioning to Portugal, where he spent four years at Benfica. His career included a brief loan spell at Beşiktaş in Turkey. In 2018, he joined Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League, where he played for three years before signing with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

At Al-Nassr, Talisca quickly established himself as a key player. However, his prominence shifted following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo in January 2023, who joined the club on a free transfer. The subsequent summer saw Sadio Mané also join the roster, forming a formidable attacking trio with Talisca, Ronaldo, and Mané. Together, they secured the Arab Club Championship title in 2023.

Earlier this year, Talisca made the decision to return to Turkey to work under José Mourinho at Fenerbahçe. Reflecting fondly on his time with Ronaldo, Talisca expressed his admiration during an interview with BandSports, stating, “It was an incredible two years. When he arrived, I had already been there for two years. I spent four years at the club, an incredible story. Playing with him was surreal; it was a dream for me. For me, he is the best in history.”

He further noted, “We trained together and accomplished remarkable feats. Collaborating with him enhanced my potential as an athlete and as a person, emphasizing professionalism and self-care. It was an extraordinary experience.”

Currently, Ronaldo is on a break from club duties at Al-Nassr and recently faced challenges with the Portuguese national team. He received a red card during Portugal’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to the Republic of Ireland, resulting in a mandatory three-match suspension as per FIFA regulations. Consequently, he missed Portugal’s subsequent qualifier against Armenia, which they won 9-0, securing their World Cup qualification.

Amid this, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) is preparing a formal appeal to FIFA to reduce Ronaldo’s suspension from three matches to one. Their argument is built on three main points: the hostile atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium, the physical interactions that led to the red card, and Ronaldo’s exemplary disciplinary record, which has seen him go 225 international matches without a red card.

After a two-and-a-half-year trophy drought at the club, Ronaldo is eager to claim silverware this season. To enhance their squad, Al-Nassr has recruited notable players like João Félix and Kingsley Coman to provide Ronaldo with increased support. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has made a strong start, netting 10 goals in 11 matches across all competitions.

He is set to return to action for Al-Nassr this Sunday in a crucial Saudi Pro League match against Al-Khaleej.