Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr set to sack Luis Castro after Saudi Super Cup loss, identify Portuguese boss as replacement - Reports
Al-Nassr are reportedly contemplating sacking boss Luis Castro following Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.'s 4-1 Saudi Super Cup final defeat to Al-Hilal on Saturday (August 17).
Ronaldo, 39, opened the scoring against the defending champions but ran out of steam as Al-Hilal scored four times without reply after the break, with Aleksandar Mitrovic bagging a brace.
The result meant that Ronaldo remains without competitive silverware with the Saudi Pro League giants. After finishing second to Al-Hilal in the league last season, Castro's side lost to the same opponents in the King Cup of Champions.
As per local sources (via Bola VP), Ronaldo and Co. have decided to part ways with Castro. Sporting director Fernando Hierro and the club hierarchy are reportedly eyeing former FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao, who's without a job since leaving the Portuguese giants earlier this year.
Ronaldo is now without competitive silverware for three years since winning the 2020-21 Coppa Italia with Juventus. In his second spell at Manchester United and nearly two years at Al-Nassr, he's yet to break the duck, going three straight seasons without silverware.
During this period, Portugal fell in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final to Morocco (1-0) and to France on penalties (5-3) following a goalless 120 minutes in the Euro 2024 quarter-final last month, where Ronaldo endured a goalless campaign.
How has Cristiano Ronaldo fared for Al-Nassr?
Cristiano Ronaldo has a stellar record with Al-Nassr since joining the Saudi Pro League giants in December 2022 as a free agent after two decades in European football.
He has made a good start to his 2024-25 campaign, scoring in both games of the Saudi Super Cup, where the Knights of Najd slumped to a heavy loss to Al-Hilal in the final.
The 39-year-old's overall tally for the club reads 60 goals and 16 assists in 66 games across competitions. That includes 44 strikes across competitions last season - his first full campaign in Saudi Arabian football.
Ronaldo struck a record 35 times in the league last season, but Al-Alami finished second for the second straight year. In his maiden AFC Champions League campaign, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner bagged six goals and an assist in eight games, but Castro's side fell to eventual winners Al-Ain on penalties in the quarter-final.
The Portugal captain is on 49 goals in 47 Saudi Pro League games as he seeks to end a three-year title drought. Al-Nassr take on Al-Reid on Thursday (August 22) in their Saudi Pro League opener.