Inside Al-Nassr's Pre-Season Camp — and How to Build a Base Like a Pro

According to YSscores, Al-Nassr's plan ran in phases: an opening block at the club's Riyadh base, a second phase in Abha, and an international camp in Lisbon, Portugal, in late July. Goal reports the trip included a series of friendlies against European sides, with international players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and João Félix rejoining the group across late July and early August after their post-tournament breaks.

That structure is not an accident. Elite pre-seasons are deliberately layered, and the logic behind them is exactly what a weekend footballer — or anyone returning to training — can borrow.

How elite pre-season is built

• Base first: the early weeks are about aerobic fitness and general strength — unglamorous work that builds the engine everything else sits on.
• Then intensity: once the base is there, sessions get sharper — sprints, changes of direction and game-speed drills.
• Friendlies as tests: warm-up matches are fitness checkpoints, a chance to load the legs and find rhythm before the points count.
• Peak on time: the whole point is to arrive fresh and firing for the opening whistle, not to be flying in July.

Build your own base like a pro

You do not need a camp in Lisbon to train this way. If you are coming back after a break, resist the urge to go all-out on day one. Start with steady conditioning work to rebuild your engine, layer in the movement patterns from our exercise library, and add sharper efforts only once the base is solid. If you want the plan mapped out for you, a personal trainer can phase your build-up so you improve steadily instead of burning out in week one.

Kick off your own season at GymNation

Every great season starts with a first session. When you are ready to build a base that lasts, join GymNation and train with the space, equipment and coaching to do it properly — with no contract options and a welcome for every level, from first-timer to seasoned baller.

Sources:
goal.com
ysscores.com

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.