Otavio on injury torment, playing for Portugal & rooting for Al Nassr title win

After a difficult season inhibited by injury, Otavio would have enjoyed his role in Al Qadsiah’s latest victory.

The Portuguese midfielder, making only his 13th Roshn Saudi League appearance for the club he joined last summer, played the entirely of the game in Sunday’s 3-1 home win against Al Nassr.

While Otavio would’ve been delighted to simply continue his comeback from a physical issue that had plagued his 2025-26 output, the result had added resonance.

That’s because Otavio had spent the two previous seasons wearing Al Nassr yellow. In that time, he helped the Riyadh side finish second and third in the RSL.

So, when in Matchweek 31 he faced a former employer who occupy top spot in the table, the ex-FC Porto schemer had to not only control the middle of the pitch, but his emotions, too.

"It was a difficult game for me," Otavio said a victory that halted Al Nassr’s 16-match RSL winning run. "It's a team that I respect a lot. We had two special years there. And the people like me, too. So, always with respect."

Still, such is his competitive edge, witnessed throughout his two full seasons in the Kingdom, that Otavio still embraced a win that keeps fourth-placed Al Qadsiah, unbeaten in 26 home league matches, firmly in the hunt for a top-three finish.

"We knew that we had the quality to face the leader of the championship," he said. "And we played a great game. We took away their invincibility, in which they didn't lose or draw [for 16 games]. And we continued with ours at home."

Understandably, and while the positivity of three points can never be underestimated, when Otavio considers the campaign more broadly, it’s been testing.

"It was a difficult season for me," he said. "But I'm happy. Now it's time to play these last games and see what will happen for the next season."

In between this term and next, though, falls the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Otavio, 31, would’ve circled that in bold on his yearly calendar. Capped 22 times by his national team, he was a regular of Roberto Martinez’s squad as recently as at the beginning of last season. However, the period since has been beset by injury.

"It was a difficult time," Otavio said. "Whenever there was a call-up, unfortunately, I got injured. And I lost my place. It's normal because Portugal is a great team and has great players. 

"But now I have to try to recover my football, my physical form, and always try to give my best."

Give his finest and Al Qadsiah should end the season well. Even if Otavio laments how his upwardly trending team could still have been in the title race bar a few slip-ups, he is hoping his old club, now just two points clear of Al Hilal, can get over the line.

"It depends on them, as it depends on Al Hilal," he said. "I want the best team to win. Honestly, I'm going to root for Al Nassr to be champion."