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Al Nassr FC

Summary

Al Nassr enter the 2026-27 season as Saudi Pro League champions, finishing last term on 86 points to edge Al Hilal by two, but the opening weeks have been defined as much by off-pitch turbulence as by title celebrations. Cristiano Ronaldo, the club's captain, will miss at least the first two league fixtures after his wedding to Georgina Rodriguez, with reports confirming his return to Riyadh is imminent but delayed. New head coach Ange Postecoglou inherits a squad still being assembled under genuine financial strain, with unofficial reports placing the club's debt at around 800 million Saudi riyals. The Saudi Pro League held a press conference to clarify the financial regulations that allowed Al Nassr to complete the signing of Portuguese midfielder Samo Costa from Real Mallorca despite those obligations.

The goalkeeper position has become one of the most complicated files of the summer. Al Nassr missed out on Saudi international Mohammed Al-Owais, who returned to Al Hilal, and are now navigating uncertainty around Nawaf Al-Aqidi, who has attracted interest from Al Shabab. The club has renewed the contract of Raghad Al-Najjar as cover, and reports link them to France and AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as a potential high-profile addition. There are also reports that Spanish defenders Bento and Inigo Martinez could be reclassified under the Asian quota for the new season, a move that would free up foreign slots for further recruitment. Al Nassr host Al Fateh at Al-Awwal Park on August 15 in their first home league game of the new campaign, a fixture that will test how well Postecoglou's side functions without their captain.

Al Nassr FC Overview

Al-Nassr target Maignan amid Milan tension

Mike Maignan’s long-term future at AC Milan has been cast into significant doubt following reports of the goalkeeper’s growing frustration with the club’s current trajectory. Despite holding the captain’s armband and being a central figure at San Siro, the Frenchman is reportedly considering his options as Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr prepare a move.

Nacho backs Ronaldo to hit 1,000 goals

Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of footballing history has received significant public backing from his long-time former team-mate Nacho Fernandez. The veteran defender, who also plies his trade in Saudi Arabia, believes the Portuguese superstar is destined to reach the elusive 1,000-goal milestone.

‘If Jones can become an actor!’ - Ronaldo backed for Hollywood

Cristiano Ronaldo is being backed to make the move into Hollywood movies once his playing career comes to a close, with Mikael Silvestre telling GOAL that CR7 should have no problem cracking that industry “if Vinnie Jones can become an actor”. There is no indication that the Portuguese GOAT is ready to head for Los Angeles just yet, but a new challenge will be sought at some point in the not too distant future.

Ange Postecoglou Nottingham Forest 2025-26

Embarrassment for Ange as Al-Nassr lose to Benfica B without Ronaldo

Ange Postecoglou's opening game in charge of Al-Nassr ended in embarrassment after the Saudi champions were beaten by Benfica's B team in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Lisbon. The result offered an early test for the Australian coach as he begins building his squad for the new campaign, with Cristiano Ronaldo missing the pre-season opener.

Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi 2026 World Cup Portugal Argentina

Will Messi or Ronaldo grace 2030 World Cup? Future prediction

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are likely to have taken in their “last dance” at the World Cup finals, former France international Mikael Silvestre has told GOAL. Two all-time greats featured at the 2026 event, as their evergreen exploits thrill audiences across the globe, but Argentina and Portugal may be without their respective GOATs when the 2030 tournament rolls around.

Ronaldo in ‘different’ MLS franchise to Messi would ‘make sense’

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have never been team-mates, but Mikael Silvestre has told GOAL that it would “make sense” for two GOATs to be kept apart in MLS if CR7 were to join his eternal rival in the United States. There has been talk of a remarkable union being pieced together at Inter Miami, but not everybody is convinced that a couple of iconic figures should grace the same team.