Cristiano Ronaldo not done yet: Al-Nassr and Jorge Jesus eye another Portuguese star after Joao Felix
After successfully luring Joao Felix to Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo has turned his attention toward convincing another of his Portugal national team teammates to join him at Al-Nassr. The move, while still in early stages, could reshape the dynamics of the Saudi Pro League and send shockwaves through the Premier League.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Al-Nassr has made a formal approach this week to sign Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes. This renewed pursuit comes just weeks after the club completed a $58 million deal for Joao Felix, another key figure in Portugal’s national setup.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Al-Nassr’s new head coach Jorge Jesus, who has a long-standing connection with the midfielder, having given him his debut at Sporting Lisbon during the 2017-18 season.
Jesus is reportedly eager to reunite with his former player and sees him as a crucial piece in building a Portuguese core around Ronaldo, Felix, and Otavio. “Al-Nassr’s management is fully behind the idea, and with Jorge Jesus driving it personally, it shows how highly they rate the player,” reports A Bola.
Ronaldo’s pull: More than just a teammate
It’s no secret that Cristiano Ronaldo wields significant influence at Al-Nassr, both on and off the pitch. Sources close to the club suggest Ronaldo played a major role in the Joao Felix transfer and is now actively involved in pushing for this next move.
“We believe Ronaldo’s presence could prove pivotal,” a club insider reportedly told A Bola. “He and the player share a strong bond both on and off the pitch.” The shared history and national pride could be a deciding factor as Al-Nassr tries to complete what would be a blockbuster signing.
Tempting offer, but past resistance
Earlier this summer, the Manchester United star rejected a massive $265 million offer from Al-Hilal, despite significant personal incentives. “There was an opportunity. The [Al-Hilal] president called me and asked if I wanted to go there. They were waiting for me,” the midfielder confirmed in June. “I spoke to coach [Ruben] Amorim. He asked me not to go. Manchester United didn’t want to sell me. They don’t need the money.”
While that decision seemed final at the time, the Al-Nassr proposal could be more difficult to resist, especially with the familiarity of Portuguese faces and the growing ambition of the Saudi Pro League.