The winter break is closer than ever. Before clubs and players celebrate the new year, some exciting fixtures are lined up. Among them is the upcoming clash between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq. Amidst the rising anticipation surrounding the match, Al Nassr’s manager has shifted the spotlight towards the $65 million star teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that the Portuguese midfielder is technically, tactically, and mentally ‘very strong’.

Luis Castro’s side, on the other hand, has a chance to extend their stay in second place. They are 13 points away, and a win against Steven Gerrard’s side will help them close the gap against the table toppers Al Hilal.

Luis Castro likens the mentality of a 28-year-old teammate to Cristiano Ronaldo

Ahead of the much-anticipated clash between Al Nassr and Al Ettifaq, Luis Castro took his time to heap praise on his star midfielder, Otavio. In the pre-match press conference, he said, “Otavio has the same mentality as Cristiano. He always wants to play and win. Technically, tactically, and mentally, he is very strong and if he does not have the ball, he wants to get it back. He plays in a 6-8-7 position wherever you want.” Certainly, these claims would be music to Otavio’s ears and would undeniably boost his confidence ahead of the major fixture. 

Otavio has quickly established himself as an indispensable part of the Al Nassr line-up. The former FC Porto midfielder has made 24 appearances for the Riyadh-based side and managed to notch four goals as well as two assists. Notably, Otavio was one of the most-wanted signings for Luis Castro. In fact, his arrival was possible due to the transfer of Neymar to Al Hilal. But how? Let’s dive deeper.

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Neymar’s $400 million deal made way for Otavio to Al Nassr 

Otavio was the last player Al Nassr brought in for the summer. Despite high spending on the newest arrivals, securing the Brazilian midfielder was made feasible, thanks to Neymar. In an interview, Luis Castro said that the club had set their sights on Otavio from the beginning of the summer transfer season, but the deal was initially derailed by a $43 million budget gap.

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Al Hilal’s acquisition of Neymar prompted Al Nassr to file a complaint against Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) due to alleged biases in fund disbursement. As a result of this protest, Al Nassr received extra funding from the PIF, which allowed them to complete the Otavio agreement in larger installments. What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments below. 

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