Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez is reportedly closing in on a move to the Saudi Pro League to reunite with national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo. The Spaniard's tenure with the Selecao appears set to conclude following the 2026 World Cup, with Al-Nassr emerging as his next destination.
Jorge Jesus has confirmed his departure from Al-Nassr after winning the Saudi Pro League title and insisted Pep Guardiola should be “proud” to replace him amid rumours linking the Manchester City boss with the club. The Portuguese coach also opened up on Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in his move to Saudi Arabia.
Jorge Jesus has made the candid admission that his decision to take the Al-Nassr job was driven entirely by a desire to help Cristiano Ronaldo secure silverware in the Middle East. The veteran coach is now just one step away from achieving that goal as the Saudi Pro League season reaches its dramatic climax.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr suffered a devastating blow to their silverware ambitions on Sunday night as they fell to a surprise 3-1 defeat against Al-Qadsiah. The result brings an end to their dominant run and hands the initiative back to their fiercest rivals in the race for the Saudi Pro League crown.
Cristiano Ronaldo endured a night of physical distress as he battled through stomach pains during Al-Nassr's narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese superstar was visibly struggling throughout the contest and vomited in the dressing room after being substituted late in the game.
Will the Portuguese star leave through the front door?
The question echoes around the stadium and beyond. Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential departure from Manchester United is the talking point of the football world. Having arrived in 2003 as a raw teenager with a mohawk and departed a decade later as a Ballon d’Or winner, he returned in 2021 eager to add more silverware to his collection. Yet here we are, less than two years on, with rumours swirling that he could once again walk out of Old Trafford.
So what does it mean to “leave through the front door”? In football parlance, it is a phrase that suggests departing on good terms, head held high, reputation intact. It implies gratitude for the memories, respect for the club and its supporters, and a clear path to the next challenge. For a player of Ronaldo’s stature, it also means acknowledging his own legacy while leaving room for the next generation to flourish.
The alternative—slinking out the back way—is unthinkable for a man who has b
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