Fresh off continental glory with Senegal, Sadio Mané made an emotional return to club duties, receiving a warm and respectful welcome that highlighted the strong bond within Al Nassr’s dressing room.
The Senegalese forward, who recently captained his national team to AFCON success, rejoined his teammates amid cheers and applause at the club’s training ground, with players and officials lining up to congratulate him on his international triumph.
Leading the reception was global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, who shared a brief but heartfelt moment with Mané, exchanging embraces and words of praise in front of the squad.
To further mark the occasion, Al Nassr organised a small celebration inside the locker room, unveiling a specially designed cake decorated with images of Mané lifting the AFCON trophy as Senegal’s captain.
In a symbolic gesture that quickly caught the attention of fans online, Ronaldo personally served Mané a slice of the cake, drawing cheers and laughter from teammates as the moment was captured on video.
The clip, later shared by the club on social media, showcased the camaraderie within the squad and the mutual respect between two of Africa and Europe’s most celebrated footballers.
Reacting to the surprise, Mané expressed gratitude to the entire Al Nassr family, praising the welcoming atmosphere and unity within the team.
“Thank you, guys. I’m really happy with the surprise – I didn’t expect it at all. It shows the warmth of this group, and I truly appreciate it. Now we’re focused on what’s ahead this season,” Mané said.
Welcoming back our champion, Sadio Mané 🦁The Nassr way 💛💛pic.twitter.com/3tnvNPLEjK
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) January 23, 2026
Focus shifts back to the title race
With celebrations now behind them, attention at Al Nassr quickly turns back to domestic matters, as the club continues its push for silverware in the Saudi Pro League.
Al Nassr currently sit second on the league table with 37 points from 16 matches, trailing leaders Al Hilal by seven points in an increasingly competitive title race.
The return of Mané, combined with Ronaldo’s leadership and experience, is expected to provide a major boost as the club enters a crucial phase of the season.
With confidence high and squad morale visibly strong, Al Nassr will be hoping the unity on display off the pitch translates into consistent results as they chase the league crown.