RIYADH — Fernando Hierro, the sporting director of Al-Nassr, has explained that the decision to exclude Brazilian defender Alex Telles from the team's squad this season was a technical one. Hierro also expressed his satisfaction with the arrival of new head coach Stefano Pioli, emphasizing that his appointment was a collective decision. Speaking at a press conference held for Pioli, who recently took over from Portuguese coach Luis Castro, Hierro explained the rationale behind Telles' exclusion. "We were compelled to exclude Telles from the squad as we signed players with significant futures in football. We are only allowed to play with eight foreign players, which is a strange rule," he said. "We selected players with a strong passion for football, but this does not diminish the important role of our Saudi players." Regarding Telles' departure, Hierro reiterated that it was purely a technical decision. "His exclusion was made for footballing reasons. In this sport, there are always many options, and it is not necessary to replace a player in the same position," he said. Addressing the decision to bring in Pioli, Hierro joked about the speculation that often surrounds coaching appointments. "If we signed a Spanish coach, fans would say it's because of me; if an Italian, they'd say it's because of Guido Fienga; if Portuguese, they'd link it to Cristiano Ronaldo," he said. "I'm happy with Pioli's arrival, and the decision to hire him was made collectively. What matters most is the best interest of the team." Hierro also explained the timing of Castro's departure. "In football, you often wait for the right moment to make decisions. We didn't dismiss Castro early because we were waiting for the right time," he said. On the team's recent signings, Hierro praised new additions Angelo Gabriel and Wesley, stating, "They are both very talented players, and we made the right decision in bringing them to Al-Nassr." He also acknowledged the challenge of having 10 foreign players while only being allowed to field eight, but said, "We respect the rules." Reflecting on the pressures of leading a globally recognized club like Al-Nassr, Hierro said: "We understand that a team of Al-Nassr's stature will always face scrutiny if results don't go well. That's natural for a big club, and we are here to improve the situation within the club." He also spoke highly of the team's midfield options, mentioning players like Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Mokhtar Ali, Otávio, Marcelo Brozović, and Ali Al-Hassan. "They are all good players for the midfield, and we will make a decision on signing a new midfielder when the time is right," he added. In closing, Hierro thanked Al-Nassr's fans for their continued support. "We are grateful for our fan base. Sometimes they are tough on us, but I want them to know we are working hard to make them happy, and we look forward to seeing them soon," he concluded.
