Al Nassr set to snub Cristiano Ronaldo's 'preferred choice' for club's next head coach as Luis Castro sacked

Al Nassr are set to snub Cristiano Ronaldo's preferred choice for his next head coach following the sacking of Luis Castro.

The Saudi Pro League club announced on Tuesday that Castro had been dismissed from his role following weeks of speculation over his future.

"Al Nassr can announce that Head Coach Luis Castro has left the Club," read a club statement, posted on X.

"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, leaves Al Nassr seventh in the Saudi Pro League, three games into the new season.

His departure comes amid rumours of unrest behind the scenes at the Saudi club.

Marca (via GOAL) report that ex-Manchester United star Ronaldo, 39, has recommended his former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, 52, as his preferred choice for Castro's replacement.

Ronaldo won the Champions League three times and La Liga once under Zidane, during the Frenchman's first spell in charge of Real Madrid.

The former France international has been without a role since stepping down as Madrid manager in 2021 and is potentially available.

However, Al Nassr look set to pick a different manager to lead the team.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that former AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli is set to take charge of the Saudi club instead, with a deal "on the verge" of being agreed.

Ronaldo reportedly wants Zidane to become the next Al Nassr head coach (Image: Getty)

Former Lazio, Inter Milan and Fiorentina boss Pioli, 58, has been out of work since leaving Milan at the end of last season.

Meanwhile, there are no guarantees Zidane would have accepted an offer from Al Nassr, if they had followed Ronaldo's advice and approached the 1998 Ballon d'Or winner.

Last year, the former midfielder reportedly rejected the offer of a two-year contract worth €150m (£126m) to manage the Riyadh club.

Foot Mercato reported at the time that Zidane was the first choice of the Saudi team to replace fellow Frenchman Rudi Garcia, who was sacked in April of last year as a result of the team's poor performance in Ronaldo's first season at the club.