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Ange Postecoglou has been handed a turbulent introduction to Saudi Arabian football after a series of pre-season disasters struck his new club Al-Nassr.
The Australian coach only took charge of the Public Investment Fund-backed club earlier this month, returning to management after being sacked by Nottingham Forest last October.
Postecoglou succeeded Jorge Jesus in the Al-Nassr hot seat and is now preparing to work alongside ageing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.
His early weeks in charge have been anything but smooth, with pre-season preparations descending into near-total disarray before competitive football has even begun.
Al-Nassr initially made the 947km trip to Abha in the Asir Mountains for a training camp, hoping to build match fitness and tactical cohesion ahead of the new season.
However, sources in the Middle East claimed the club quickly abandoned that excursion after being left unimpressed by the standard of facilities and equipment provided at the venue.
Club officials then drew up plans for a pre-season trip to Portugal, identifying Lisbon as an alternative destination for the squad to prepare properly.
Those plans also unravelled dramatically when the travelling party was reportedly told at the airport they would not be allowed to board a flight to Lisbon, having not obtained the necessary permission.
Al-Jazeera reported that Al-Nassr bosses remain confident they can overcome the hurdle and arrange a new date to travel into Lisbon.
The travel chaos arrives at a particularly difficult moment, as Al-Nassr are reportedly navigating a significant financial crisis despite being owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.
It has been claimed that Al-Nassr players were not paid their full salaries during the month of June, with the resulting money problems limiting the club’s transfer market activity.
The squad has yet to bring in any new signings and suffered a notable departure when star midfielder Marcelo Brozovic left on a free transfer.
Colombia international Jhon Duran is also reportedly closing in on a loan move to Benfica, further thinning the options available to Postecoglou.
Postecoglou has also been tentatively linked with a move to reunite him with Celtic skipper Callum McGregor, though no deal has materialised at this stage.
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