Former Al-Ittihad midfielder Mohammed Noor has suggested that Al-Nassr could strengthen their attack by signing Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, while advising Al-Ahli winger Saleh Abu Shamat to concentrate on his football rather than provoking opponents.
Noor believes Lukaku’s qualities could provide Al-Nassr with an additional attacking dimension as they seek to achieve their objectives in upcoming competitions. He also criticised Abu Shamat’s conduct during matches, arguing that the winger needs to show greater discipline and direct his attention towards improving his performances.
The former Al-Ittihad star made the comments during an appearance on the television programme Our Club, where he discussed Al-Nassr’s attacking options and the areas in which Abu Shamat could improve his game.
Al-Nassr recorded a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi on Monday, while Al-Ahli also secured a 3-1 win against the United Arab Emirates’ Al-Wasl. Both matches were played in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
Noor backs potential Ronaldo and Lukaku partnership
Discussing Al-Nassr’s attacking requirements, Noor suggested that bringing Lukaku into the team alongside Ronaldo could create a formidable forward line.
The former Al-Ittihad player believes the combination of the Portuguese superstar, the Belgian striker and the club’s other attacking players could provide the team with the strength needed to pursue different objectives.
“Imagine Al-Nassr signing a new striker with Lukaku’s qualities alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. This group is strong and needs a strong striker as well to achieve different things.”
Noor’s comments highlight his belief that Al-Nassr would benefit from having another powerful centre-forward capable of complementing Ronaldo in attack.
His suggestion centres on the possibility of pairing two established strikers whose presence could give the team additional options in the final third. However, the comments were presented as a hypothetical scenario rather than confirmation that Al-Nassr are pursuing a deal for Lukaku.
Noor tells Abu Shamat to focus on football
While discussing Al-Nassr’s attacking potential, Noor also turned his attention to Abu Shamat, expressing concern about the Al-Ahli winger’s behaviour during matches.
The former Al-Ittihad star believes the player should prioritise his technical development and avoid becoming distracted by attempts to provoke opposing players.
Noor argued that Abu Shamat possesses the ability to make a significant contribution to Al-Ahli but needs to approach matches with greater concentration and respect for his opponents.
“Abu Shamat has a flaw that he must correct, which is to devote himself to playing football and to respect the opponent in front of him on the field.”
He added that the winger’s tendency to become involved in confrontations could prevent him from making the most of his technical qualities.
“He should be careful with the ball, but he is preoccupied with provoking the opponent. If he focused on the ball and was more serious, his technical situation would be very different.”
Noor’s assessment suggests that Abu Shamat could improve his overall contribution to the team by maintaining his concentration on the ball and avoiding unnecessary distractions during games.
According to the former Al-Ittihad player, technical ability alone is not enough to guarantee consistent performances. Focus, discipline and respect for opponents are also important in helping a player make effective decisions on the pitch.
His remarks therefore offered two different perspectives on Saudi Arabian football: the potential for Al-Nassr to enhance their attacking options through a partnership between Ronaldo and Lukaku, and the need for Abu Shamat to channel his abilities into more disciplined performances for Al-Ahli.
While Noor imagined how a new striker could strengthen Al-Nassr, his advice to Abu Shamat was straightforward: concentrate on football, respect opponents and make better use of his technical potential.
