Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr set for major ownership change just days after he signed £340 million deal
Al Nassr are set for a major ownership change just days after tying Cristiano Ronaldo down to another lucrative contract.
Ronaldo, 40, was due to be out of contract this summer and rumours were rife about him potentially ending his Saudi Arabia adventure and embarking on a new challenge.
However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner penned a new deal until 2027 - said to be worth around £340 million according to The Telegraph.
The extension means Ronaldo, who was the league's top scorer for the second season running, will still be playing at Al Nassr when he is 42.
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Al Nassr parted company with Stefano Pioli after the 2024/25 campaign and look set to replace him with Ronaldo's compatriot and former Benfica and Al Hilal manager Jorge Jesus.
What is the update on Al Nassr after Cristiano Ronaldo's new contract?
But that isn't the only significant change at the Riyadh club, with media personality Mohammed Al-Bukairy reporting that Al Nassr are one of three sides set for ownership restructuring.
Since June 2023, Al Nassr, along with Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, have been primarily owned by the Public Investment Fund.
This move, which saw the PIF take a 75% stakestake, effectively privatised the clubs and led to a flurry of marquee signings which followed on from Ronaldo's game-changing arrival.
How will the change affect Saudi Pro League's big clubs?
According to Goal, the PIF's 75% stake in Al Nassr will be transferred to Riyadh Air, the second flag carrier of Saudi Arabia.
The same stake for Al Ittihad will go to Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC), with the shares in Al Hilal winding up with the Kingdom Holding Company of which the PIF owns 17% of.
The PIF still own a significant amount of shares in Riyadh Air but only Al Ahli will officially be controlled by the sovereign wealth fund.
Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr on a free transfer in December 2023 and has scored 99 goals in 111 appearances.
However, he is still yet to lift significant silverware with Al Nassr and is confident that will change for the 2025/26 season.
“I still believe in that goal,” he told Al Nassr's official channels.
“That’s why I renewed for two more years. I believe I will be a champion in Saudi Arabia.”
Ronaldo, who doubled down on claims that the Saudi Pro League is a top five league, added: “I will stay two more years as a football player, but also for life because my contribution to this country is not only football. I want to be part of the country's growth forever."
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Saudi Pro League, Saudi Arabia
Josh Lawless