Richard Ríos has begun his career in the Saudi league, facing numerous internationally recognized figures. His debut came with Al Ittihad, where he had the chance to meet Cristiano Ronaldo, star of Al Nassr and one of the most prominent footballers of the last two decades.
The Colombian midfielder not only debuted with Al Ittihad but also contributed to an important victory that helps his team get closer to the leader, Al Hilal. This performance is key for Ríos to gain confidence and playing time ahead of the Colombian national team call-up in September, when they will face Mexico, Peru, and Paraguay.
Ríos debuted in the Saudi League with Al Ittihad just a few days after being loaned from Benfica, facing Al Nassr, which has had Ronaldo since 2023, raising the profile of other players in the tournament. Before the start of the match, Ríos and Ronaldo met in the tunnel, where the Portuguese said a few words to the Colombian, who responded cordially before heading to their respective dressing rooms.
The 26-year-old midfielder is on loan at Al Ittihad until mid-2027 and will need to return to Lisbon at the end of the loan, which does not include a purchase option. Coach Marco Silva mentioned that Ríos’ departure was the player’s decision and left the door open for a return in the future. ‘As long as he is our player, a return is always possible. I had absolutely no conversation with him in which he said he could not come back,’ Silva stated.
In his debut, Al Ittihad defeated Al Nassr 2-1, ending Ronaldo’s team’s perfect start to the league. Although the Portuguese striker started, he failed to score, allowing Al Hilal to solidify its position as leader. The match was quickly decided by a brace from George Ilenikhena, and although Al Nassr scored before halftime, they could not turn the situation around in the second half.
Richard Ríos entered the game in the 46th minute, replacing Mukhtar Ali, who suffered a muscle issue. The Colombian played in a double pivot with Dion Lopy and received a rating of 7.1 on the statistics platform Sofascore. His next match will be against Al Feiha on Tuesday, September 8. This victory positions Al Hilal at the top of the table with 15 points, while Al Nassr is in second place and Al Ittihad is four points behind the leader, with 11 units.
Source: www.infobae.com
