Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club, Al Nassr, announced the departure of head coach Luis Castro on Tuesday, just a day after a lackluster 1-1 draw against Al Shorta of Iraq in the AFC Champions League. The draw has added to the club’s early struggles in the domestic season.
The game against Al Shorta, part of the AFC Champions League Elite campaign, has raised concerns about the team’s overall performance. This draw comes at a time when Al Nassr has already had a shaky start to their league campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed with the Riyadh-based team in early 2023, is nearing the end of his current contract, which is expected to expire next summer.
The 39-year-old star has yet to lead Al Nassr to a Saudi Pro League title, although he did secure the Arab Club Champions Cup last year.
Al Nassr released a statement on the social media platform X, confirming the exit of their Portuguese head coach. The club said, “Al Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club,” and added, “Everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future.”
Castro, 63, had been with Al Nassr for a little over a year. He is the third coach to leave the club since Ronaldo’s high-profile arrival. Prior to Castro, French coach Rudi Garcia left the club in April, followed by Croatian coach Dinko Jelicic, who briefly took charge before Castro’s appointment in July last year.
Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr marked the beginning of a wave of high-profile footballers joining Saudi clubs, including Neymar and Karim Benzema.
Despite these significant signings, Al Nassr has faced challenges in securing consistent wins. The club finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season and has struggled in the current season, drawing twice in three matches.
