Ronaldo on target again as Al-Nassr win to go 3rd in Saudi Pro League

Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after the Al-Nassr v Al-Fateh match on January 26, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 26 January 2025
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Ronaldo on target again as Al-Nassr win to go 3rd in Saudi Pro League

  • Late strike lifts Portuguese star’s goal tally to 14 — and saves goalkeeper’s blushes

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s fine goalscoring form continued in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday as he helped Al-Nassr defeat Al-Fateh 3-1 to move back into third place. 

A late strike made it three goals in two games for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner as he moved clear at the top of the goalscoring standings with 14 for the season so far.

The deadlock was only broken four minutes before the break when Marwane Saadane put into his own net from close range after Angelo drove a low ball across the face of goal. Angelo was the provider of the second just before the hour, swinging over a free-kick for French defender Mohamed Simakan to head home his first goal for Al-Nassr.

At 2-0 the game seemed done and dusted, but with 18 minutes remaining, Al-Fateh, in last place in the standings, reduced the arrears thanks to Mourad Batna, who pounced after goalkeeper Bento spent too long on the ball inside his own area and was caught in possession.

Ronaldo spared Bento’s blushes with three minutes of normal time remaining, just as the visitors were threatening to take a surprising point.

It was so simple. Sadio Mane broke free down the left, passed to the far post, and there was the Portuguese star to sweep home with the minimum of fuss.

Ronaldo had the ball in the back of the net once more deep into injury time, smashing home spectacularly from the right side of the area, only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

Al-Nassr now have 35 points from 17 games, eight behind Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad, who have a game in hand. 

Earlier in the day, Al-Ahli made it seven wins from the last eight in the league with a 5-0 thrashing of Al-Riyadh.

Two goals from England striker Ivan Toney and one each from Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, and Ziyad Al-Johani made the difference as the Jeddah club stay in fifth, three points behind Al-Nassr.


Saudi club Neom sign former France striker Lacazette

Updated 01 July 2025
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Saudi club Neom sign former France striker Lacazette

  • Lacazette joins fellow ex-Lyon player Said Benrahma at Neom, who were promoted from the Saudi second tier last season
  • Neom also announced the signing of Ivorian midfielder Amadou Kone from Reims

PARIS: Former France forward Alexandre Lacazette has signed for Saudi club Neom after the end of his contract at Lyon, the Pro League side announced on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old joins fellow ex-Lyon player Said Benrahma at Neom, who were promoted from the Saudi second tier last season.

“From the cradle of heritage in Lyon to the frontier of the future at NEOM S.C,” Neom said in a social media post. “Sharpshooter @LacazetteAlex has arrived.”

Lacazette joined Lyon for a second spell with the team in 2022 from Arsenal and left the club as the second-highest goalscorer in their history with 201 goals.

Neom also announced the signing of Ivorian midfielder Amadou Kone from Reims on Monday.


Ronaldo renews Al-Nassr contract until 2027

Updated 26 June 2025
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Ronaldo renews Al-Nassr contract until 2027

  • “Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027,” the club wrote in a post on X
  • Ronaldo later posted a message on his Instagram, confirming the extension

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo inked a two-year extension with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, the club announced Thursday, following months of speculation over which team he would sign for next season.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027,” the club wrote in a post on X.


Minutes before the official confirmation, the team posted a teaser video, with the 40-year-old Ronaldo walking along a beachfront and saying: “Al-Nassr forever.”

Ronaldo later posted a message on his Instagram, confirming the extension.

“A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together,” read the post.

The Portuguese superstar arrived in 2023 in the kingdom to play with the club, heralding a rush of players in the latter stages of their careers to the Kingdom.

Last month, Ronaldo posted “This chapter is over” hours after the Saudi Pro League wrapped up with Al-Nassr finishing third and trophyless once again.

“Ronaldo’s presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half. He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia,” a source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi football, told AFP last month.

Ronaldo’s announcement in May came just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18-month stay in January, after playing just seven times for Al-Hilal — on a reported salary of around $104 million a year.

Although Ronaldo was the Pro League’s top scorer with 25 goals, he has been unable to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al-Nassr, who lost in the Asian Champions League semifinals last month.

Last year, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said he could end his career with the Riyadh team.

Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo’s move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034.

For the past two years, Saudi football fans could watch the likes of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, with six Ballons d’Or between them, on any given weekend during the football season in the kingdom.


Pioli quits as coach of Saudi side Al-Nassr

Updated 25 June 2025
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Pioli quits as coach of Saudi side Al-Nassr

  • No official reason was given for the split
  • “We would like to thank Mr.Pioli and his staff for their work last season,” said Al-Nassr

PARIS: Al-Nassr have parted company with their Italian coach Stefano Pioli, the Saudi side announced on Wednesday.

No official reason was given for the split after only nine months in the post but Pioli’s name has been linked with joining Fiorentina for a second spell in charge of the Serie A side.


“Al-Nassr announce that Mr.Pioli and his staff no longer coach the first team,” Cristiano Ronaldo’s club posted on social media.

“We would like to thank Mr.Pioli and his staff for their work last season,” added Al-Nassr, who finished third in the Saudi Pro League.

Pioli, who guided AC Milan to the 2022 Serie A crown, only joined Al-Nassr in September 2024.

Prior to his near five-year stint at AC Milan, the 59-year-old coached several other Italian sides including Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Lazio and Bologna.


Al-Hilal sign Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi as new coach

Updated 05 June 2025
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Al-Hilal sign Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi as new coach

  • Inzaghi, 49, fills role of Jorge Jesus who was fired last month
  • First challenge is FIFA Club World Cup from June 14 to July 13

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia giants Al-Hilal announced on Thursday Simone Inzaghi as their new head coach, replacing Jorge Jesus who was fired last month.

The announcement was made in a video posted on the club’s X account shortly after midnight.

“My name is Simone Inzaghi. And today begins my story with Al-Hilal,” he says at the end of the 40-second clip.

He is shown wearing his customary black suit, tying his shoes, putting on a watch and adjusting his tie.

Inzaghi’s Inter Milan suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of PSG in Saturday’s Champions League final, prompting the Italian to step down.

He joined Inter in 2021 and won 141 of 217 games as coach. He was at Serie A rivals Lazio for five years before taking over at Inter.

Al-Hilal parted ways with Portuguese coach Jesus at the start of May, who led the Riyadh team to 83 wins in 105 games, in his second stint with the club.

Defending champions Hilal finished second in the Saudi Pro League, eight points behind Al-Ittihad.

Inzaghi’s first order of business will be in the US, where Al-Hilal will join the best teams in the world, including the 49-year-old’s former side Inter, in the FIFA Club World Cup which runs from June 14 to July 13.

Al-Hilal are drawn in Group H with Real Madrid, Pachuca and Salzburg.


Man United captain Bruno Fernandes rejects $135m Al-Hilal transfer deal, UK media reports

Updated 03 June 2025
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Man United captain Bruno Fernandes rejects $135m Al-Hilal transfer deal, UK media reports

  • BBC Sport says the Portuguese midfielder spent several days ‘seriously’ considering the deal but turned it down for ‘family and personal’ reasons
  • No official word, before or after the stories appeared on Tuesday, from Al-Hilal about any approach to the player

BEIRUT: Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to sign for Saudi Pro League powerhouses Al-Hilal, for “family and personal” reasons.

Though there had been no official word from Al-Hilal about any approach to the player, several British media outlets reported on Tuesday that the 30-year-old rejected a massive deal said to be worth £80 million-£100 million ($108 million-$135 million).

BBC Sport said the Portuguese midfielder spent the past few days “seriously” considering an offer that would have more than doubled what he earns at Old Trafford, where he is already one of the top earners. Having discussed the deal with his family, however, Fernandes told the Saudi club he would not be joining them.

Portugal were preparing on Tuesday for their Nation League semifinal against Germany on Wednesday, and with Fernandes expected to participate in the prematch press conference in Munich, it was thought the question of Al-Hilal’s interest in him might be raised.

Man United were said to be thrilled and relieved by his decision to stay with the club. Head coach Ruben Amorim had said last week that he believed his captain would remain at Old Trafford for the forseeable future.

According to the British media reports, there was no direct communication between the two clubs, so United were never presented with any official offer from Al-Hilal that they could turn down. However, the stories suggested the Saudi side were willing to offer Fernandes up to £100 million to sign in time for the FIFA Club World Cup, while will take place in the US between June 14 and July 13.

The Mirror newspaper quoted former United star Rio Ferdinand as saying he was delighted that Fernandes decided to remain in England.

“I’ve got to be honest (it’s) the biggest news for me today,” Ferdinand reportedly said on his podcast.

Sky Sports said that Al-Hilal offered Fernandes £100 million to join and were willing to almost treble his £250,000-a-week wages, and his decision to turn them down was thought to be both a football and personal one.

It was also reported that the player’s agent, Miguel Pinho, had visited Riyadh for talks with senior Al-Hilal executives but this could not be independently confirmed.

Talksport.com said Fernandes rejected an “eye-watering” £700,000-a-week move after discussing it with his family and coach.

Former United right-back Gary Neville told Sky Sports the transfer would not have been a bad deal, financially, for the Old Trafford club but added: “He’s so important. The fact that he wants to stay, the fact that he wants to go through this and come out the other side — because it would have been easy for him at the end of this season to say, ‘Look, I’m done here’ — will endear him towards Manchester United fans even more.”

Al-Hilal often shares important news through the club’s account on social media platform X but there had been no mention of any potential offer to Fernandes.