Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr set to face Championship club in blockbuster pre-season clash

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One Championship club looks likely to face off against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr this summer.

Pre-season is primarily a means of getting players up to speed ahead of the upcoming campaign, but can also prove to be a way to increase a club’s stock from overseas.

For example, Wrexham have increased their fanbase in Australia due to their ongoing pre-season tour from Down Under, whilst fellow Championship side Hull City will take part in their annual Turkish holiday.

The stature of the Championship in world football is massive, meaning that several clubs often attract top clubs to face. However, no one would have expected one team to be lined up to face off against Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.

Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr have been in contact with a Championship side to arrange a friendly, and it now looks incredibly likely to go ahead.

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Sheffield United set to face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in pre-season

As reported by The Star, Sheffield United are in line to face off against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr this summer.

The possibility of a game taking place is being explored by the involved parties, with plenty of hope in the Blades camp that it could still happen.

However, it is unlikely to take place at Bramall Lane, due to the ongoing work taking place in S2, with an alternative venue needing to be found.

The news of a potential friendly against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi side comes as quite a surprise, especially considering the calibre of the other scheduled friendlies for the Blades, with Ruben Selles’ side set to face Rotherham United, Chesterfield Town and Burton Albion.

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The Championship’s stature has grown massively in recent years

In the past few seasons, we have seen the Championship capture far more eyes, not just nationally, but internationally too.

It is set to reach a new level this season as well. There will no doubt be a major US audience taking interest in England’s second tier in the 2025/26 campaign following Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s Wrexham, as well as Tom Brady’s Birmingham City clinching a move up to the Championship.

Now, Sheffield United look set to take centre stage by facing off against an Al-Nassr side consisting of Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Aymeric Laporte, Sadio Mane, and Marcelo Brozovic. It feels like only the beginning of the Championship is going on its upward trajectory, with several clubs now succeeding in bringing an international audience to the game.