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Football
Al-Nassr is set to address four pressing issues before the new season, without waiting for Cristiano Ronaldo's return from the 2026 World Cup.
Al-Nassr, the reigning champions of the Saudi Professional League, is gearing up to tackle several urgent matters prior to the start of the upcoming season, which will feature extensive changes following the departure of Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus and the club's expanded ambitions across multiple competitions in 2026–2027.
During the season in which Cristiano Ronaldo's teammates achieved remarkable statistics, Al-Nassr secured the league title by recording the most wins, scoring the highest number of goals, and maintaining the longest winning streak. Nevertheless, the race for the championship concluded with a tense and challenging finish, requiring the final round to confirm the title.
With the exit of Jorge Jesus, who led Al-Nassr to the league championship but lost the AFC Champions League final twice, the club's management will focus on resolving several urgent issues even before the arrival of the new head coach.
The club's first-team affairs are typically overseen by CEO José Semedo and sporting director Coutinho Simão, who consult closely with the club legend Cristiano Ronaldo, an active partner in all club decisions.
As Ronaldo participates with the Portuguese national team in the 2026 World Cup, Al-Nassr aims to finalize four urgent matters without waiting for the captain's return, expected in the second half of July.
The first challenge for José Semedo and Coutinho Simão involves Brazilian goalkeeper Pinto, who is likely to be excluded from future plans after two disappointing seasons marked by generally modest performances.
Pinto has been a key player for Al-Nassr since joining in July 2024, under a contract valid until June 30, 2028. He arrived from Atlético Paranaense for approximately 18 million euros, a substantial salary that has not matched his on-field contributions, prompting considerations for his departure.
The club's management is working to secure a replacement goalkeeper who will compete with Nawaf Al-Aqidi for the starting position in the 2026–2027 season, during which Al-Nassr will compete in the Super Cup, the league, the King's Cup, and the AFC Champions League Elite.
In contrast to Pinto, Al-Nassr appears intent on retaining Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozović, whose contract expired at the end of the season.
Brozović will officially leave Al-Nassr's home stadium, Al-Orobah Park, starting July 1, 2026, as his contract ends on June 30. To date, the club has not presented an official renewal offer, amid reports of interest from other clubs such as Turkish side Beşiktaş.
Since joining from Inter Milan in summer 2023, Brozović has delivered notable performances, making his future at Al-Nassr a priority issue for CEO José Semedo and sporting director Simão, even before appointing the new first-team coach.
Similar to Brozović, the future of Saudi international winger Abdulrahman Ghareeb is a critical and urgent matter within Al-Nassr. In the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who wields considerable influence in team decisions, the responsibility to resolve Ghareeb's situation falls on Semedo and Simão.
Ghareeb, aged 29, faces an uncertain future with Al-Nassr as his contract expires on June 30, 2026. Reports indicate stalled renewal negotiations between the player and the club due to disagreements over financial terms.
He will become a free agent on July 1, allowing him to sign with any club without a transfer fee. Al-Ittihad is reportedly the strongest contender interested in acquiring him.
Alongside the ambiguity surrounding Ghareeb, CEO José Semedo and sporting director Simão have devised an alternative plan focused on signing Khaled Al-Ghannam from Al-Ettifaq, despite his contract with the club running until June 30, 2028.
Al-Nassr is exploring the possibility of re-signing their former winger, Al-Ghannam, during the upcoming summer transfer window. This interest follows his impressive 2025–2026 season with Al-Ettifaq, where he scored 13 goals and provided 7 assists in 33 matches.
Given the increasing likelihood of Ghareeb's departure, securing Al-Ghannam would be a pressing and challenging task for Al-Nassr's management. However, Al-Ettifaq is reluctant to release the player, and other clubs, including Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah, are also competing to sign him.
