Latest news with #AlNassr
News18
36 minutes ago
- Sport
- News18
Christian Pulisic Rejects Big Opportunity To Play Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo: Report
The USA winger is contracted to AC Milan until June 2027. But discussions over a potential renewal have slowed down in recent weeks. Pulisic is reportedly keen on representing Milan heading into the upcoming season. He has flourished with the team since joining from Chelsea in July 2023, recording 32 goals and 23 assists in 100 matches across all tournaments. Al Nassr would be hoping to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus was appointed on Tuesday by Al Nassr, where he will link up with Ronaldo, who signed a new two-year deal with the Saudi club in June. The 70-year-old Jesus was sacked by Saudi rivals Al Hilal in May after their Asian Champions League semi-final exit. Jesus had been in charge since 2023 in what was his second spell with Al Hilal. A long managerial career has taken place in his native Portugal, with Benfica and Sporting Lisbon and he has coached in Brazil and Turkey as well. Ronaldo, 40, inked a new contract until 2027 with Al Nassr last month, ending speculation over a potential departure.
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jorge Jesus on Al Nassr appointment: ‘Without Cristano Ronaldo's invitation, I wouldn't be there'
Jorge Jesus has said he would not have been appointed as new Al Nassr head coach without Cristiano Ronaldo's invitation. Portuguese coach Jesus, 70, has replaced Stefano Pioli as Al Nassr coach following last season's third-place Saudi Pro League (SPL) finish. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January 2023 and has scored 99 goals in 111 first-team appearances, but has not yet won the SPL title nor tasted success in the Asian Champions League. Advertisement Jesus, who departed the club's Riyadh rivals Al Hilal in May, has now said that Ronaldo was influential in his arrival at the club. 'Without his invitation, I wouldn't be there,' Jesus said, in quotes carried by A Bola. 'Ronaldo is a player who has always won everything wherever he's played, but not yet in Saudi Arabia. I'll see if I can help him this year. 'We speak the same language, everything will be easy. I couldn't refuse the challenge Cristiano gave me.' It's official: ✍️Mr. Jorge Jesus is the new Head Coach of @AlNassrFC 💛 Welcome, Mister! 🧠 — AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) July 14, 2025 Jesus, who dramatically left Benfica in 2015 to join their Lisbon rivals Sporting CP, has had two stints at Al Hilal but is now joining their city rivals. 'I love being in Saudi Arabia; it's the country of the future, in football and beyond,' he added. 'I am delighted to be returning. I've always been very happy. I've always won, and now I'm going to try to do it again.' The Athletic reported in March that Jesus was a leading contender to become Brazil head coach alongside Carlo Ancelotti, who assumed the role after leaving Real Madrid in May. ()
The National
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The National
New Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus: Without Cristiano Ronaldo, I would not be here
Al Nassr have confirmed the appointment of Jorge Jesus as manager less than three months after the Portuguese left their bitter Riyadh rivals Al Hilal. Jesus has signed a one-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club and will be linking up with veteran attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, who agreed a two-year extension with Nassr in June. And the 70-year has revealed that his countryman played a pivotal role in him becoming Nassr's new coach. "Without Cristiano Ronaldo, I certainly wouldn't be there," said Jesus. "The motivation is high. Al Nassr needs to win titles, just like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has always won everything at the clubs he's played for. "He hasn't won practically anything at this one yet, so I'll see if I can help him. We speak the same language, so it will be easy. I couldn't turn down the challenge Cristiano gave me. "I love being in Saudi Arabia; it's the country of the future, in football and beyond. We're delighted to return. I've always been very happy. I've always won, and now I'm going to try to do it again." He becomes the fifth Al Nassr coach since Ronaldo's arrival at the end of 2022 after Frenchman Rudi Garcia, Croatian Dinko Jelicic, countryman Luis Castro and Italy's Stefano Pioli. Previous coach Pioli's brief spell in charge ended last month with the Italian heading back to Serie A to take over as Fiorentina manager. Pioli, who was named Serie A coach of the year with AC Milan in 2022, could not guide Ronaldo and Nassr to the first major trophy of the Portuguese striker's spell in the kingdom and his reign lasted less than nine months after replacing Castro. "Thanks for everything," Ronaldo wrote in a message on social media following the news of Pioli's exit. The club would finish third in the SPL, 13 points behind champions Al Ittihad and five shy of second-placed Al Hilal, despite Ronaldo again finishing top of the scoring charts with 25 goals. Al Nassr's AFC Champions League Elite dreams were ended by Kawasaki Frontale at the semi-final stage, with the Japanese side winning 3-2 in Jeddah. Kawasaki would go on to lose against Nassr's SPL rivals Al Ahli in the final. Jesus, meanwhile, saw his second spell as Al Hilal coach come to an end after their reign as SPL champions was ended by Al Ittihad while they were knocked out of the Asian Champions League in the semi-finals 3-1 by eventual winners Al Ahli. They did triumph in the Saudi Super Cup against Al Nassr, though, despite Ronaldo putting his team into an early lead as Hilal roared back with goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Malcom either side of an Aleksandar Mitrovic double to seal a 4-1 battering. The 2023-24 season had been a record-breaking one for Jesus and Hilal as they secured a fourth SLP title in five years, as well as embarking on a remarkable run of 34 consecutive victories across all competitions. The streak was ended by UAE side Al Ain in the Asian Champions League last four with the Garden City club going on to win the competition. Hilal also won the King's Cup that season, again beating Nassr in the final via a penalty shoot-out, a loss that left Ronaldo in tears after the match. But Jesus could not repeat that success the following campaign and left Hilal by mutual consent, meaning he missed out on leading the team at the Fifa Club World Cup. The veteran coach had been linked with the Brazil job before the Selecao appointed Carlo Ancelotti, but instead returns to Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr. As well as Ronaldo, Jesus will have at his disposal the likes of former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, ex-Porto attacking midfielder Otavio and forward Sadio Mane, who won the Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Champions League with Liverpool. He has just lost the services of Colombian striker Jhon Duran who has moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce on a one-year loan. Duran scored 12 goals in 18 games after moving from English side Aston Villa in February in a deal worth up to $80 million.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Saudi Pro League: Cristiano Ronaldo gets new Portuguese ally in bid to end title drought in Saudi Arabia - who is the new Al Nassr coach
Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Al Nassr in the 2024/25 campaign (Image by) Jorge Jesus has been named the new head coach of Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, replacing Stefano Pioli. The Portuguese coach said he joined the team after an invitation from star man Cristiano Ronaldo . 'Without his invitation, I certainly wouldn't be there. The motivation will be great. I'm going to try to ensure that Al Nassr, which is one of the best clubs in Saudi Arabia, can win titles. Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who has always won everything he's played for. He hasn't won in Saudi Arabia yet. I'll see if I can help him,' Jesus told reporters, as quoted by IANS. Jesus had earlier managed Al Nassr's rivals Al Hilal SFC for two seasons. He left the club after their AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 semi-final exit. However, he enjoyed success during his time there, winning the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup, and Saudi Super Cup in the 2023/24 season. Cristiano Ronaldo on his Instagram story (Screengrab) The 70-year-old has also coached major clubs like Benfica and Sporting CP in Portugal, and Flamengo in Brazil. At Al Nassr, Jesus will work with Ronaldo, who recently extended his contract with the club until 2027. The Portuguese star welcomed the coach on social media, writing, 'Bem-vindo (Welcome), Mister Jorge Jesus,' on an Instagram Story. Poll Do you think Jorge Jesus will lead Al Nassr to win titles? Yes, definitely No, I don't think so. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in late 2022 after leaving Manchester United. He has been in excellent form, scoring 93 goals in 105 matches across competitions for the club, but it yet to win the Saudi Pro League. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hans India
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Without Ronaldo's invitation, I wouldn't be here: Jorge Jesus on becoming Al Nassr head coach
Jorge Jesus has been appointed head coach of Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr Football Club, taking over the reins from Stefano Pioli. The Portuguese tactician has revealed that Ronaldo invited him to join the team. Jesus was previously with Al Nassr's Saudi Pro League rivals Al Hilal SFC for two seasons in what was his second stint with the Riyadh-based club. 'Without his invitation, I certainly wouldn't be there. The motivation will be great. I'm going to try to ensure that Al Nassr, which is one of the best clubs in Saudi Arabia, can win titles. Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who has always won everything he's played for. He hasn't won in Saudi Arabia yet. I'll see if I can help him,' Jesus told reporters. Jesus parted ways with Al Hilal following their AFC Champions League Elit️e 2024/25 semi-final exit but did enjoy success with the four-time Asian champions, guiding the club to a treble in the 2023/24 season where Al Hilal won the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup and Saudi Super Cup. The 70-year-old had previously coached Benfica and Sporting CP in Portugal as well as Flamengo in Brazil. At Al Nassr, Jesus will be working with Portuguese icon Ronaldo, who recently extended his contract until 2027. 'Bem-vindo (Welcome), Mister Jorge Jesus,' wrote Ronaldo on an Instagram Story. Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in late 2022 following a high-profile exit from Manchester United, has been prolific in front of goal, scoring 93 times in 105 appearances across competitions. His move to Saudi Arabia marked a significant shift in global football, drawing international attention to the Saudi Pro League and setting the stage for a wave of star arrivals in the region.
