FootyChatter.com

Saudi side Al Nassr are facing more upheaval while still trying to secure Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature for next season. Nassr went trophyless in 2024/25 much to their Portuguese captain’s distaste, and now their sacked CEO has announced he will take legal action against the club. Majed Jaman Al-Sorour responded to his dismissal in a statement where he strongly criticised the club’s actions. “Today my services were terminated in a manner that I consider unprofessional, inappropriate and unacceptable, ” he said.   “Therefore, a litigation process will begin between me and the management that runs our club. ” The news is a further distraction for the Riyadh side whose top priority is keeping Ronaldo at the club. The Real Madrid legend triggered a wave of Saudi Pro League signings in 2023 when he departed Manchester United to become the highest paid athlete in the world, but that contract will expire on June 30. Al Nassr ended the season trophyless again, finishing third in the league after back-to-back runners-up spots. Posting on social media at the close of the campaign, Ronaldo wrote: "This chapter has closed but the story is yet to be written. Grateful to everyone. " Speaking after a Nations League final win with Portugal over Spain, Ronaldo was asked about his future and said: "Basically nothing is gonna change. [Staying at Al Nassr? ] Yeah. " The club’s sporting director, former Madrid defender Fernando Hierro has also expressed his optimism over an extension.   "His presence in Saudi Arabia, right from the start, is a national project, ” he said.   “Cristiano is a global phenomenon in the history of football, he has helped the league grow. “We are in contact with him to renew his contract and we hope he wants to continue with us. There are at least 30 teams that want him but I am confident he will stay with us". The AFP also more recently reported a source saying negotiations are continuing, but that they’re ‘difficult’. "There are difficult negotiations underway to convince Ronaldo to stay and (continue) to play, " a source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) told the French agency. "The main option was a transfer to Al Hilal, with the opportunity to play in the Club World Cup. ” Ronaldo was linked with a flurry of Club World Cup sides, even by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, which drew criticism from the Portuguese’s management team. Multiple Brazilian sides were rumoured to be interested, but the only team to come out and confirm an approach was Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca. Club president Hicham Ait-Menna commented: “Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't come for the money because he doesn't need it. I don't know how the rumour spread.   “But it's true that I contacted one of his agent's friends three and a half or four months ago and said to him: 'Wouldn't he like to play in the Club World Cup? ' He said: 'Well, I don't think so'. “There was never a real negotiation for this player. We would have liked to have him, but financially we couldn't pay the price he's worth. Unless he had shown interest. .. I even went back two or three times. ” On top of Nassr’s CEO leaving, there are also strong reports that manager Stefano Pioli will head back to Serie A with Fiorentina. The 2022 Scudetto winner only arrived in September, and La Gazzetta claim he’s now waiting until July 3 to move back as that date will allow him to claim Saudi residency and avoid paying tax. Linked with replacing him is the recently sacked Italy manager Luciano Spalletti who won Serie A with Napoli the year after Pioli did so with Milan. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

Registered in England No. 2806093. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF

talk SPORT is a registered trade mark of Wireless Group Media (GB) Limited.

This service is provided on talk SPORT Limited's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy.