In a surprising move, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr has announced the departure of their Portuguese coach Luis Castro. The news comes just a day after the club’s disappointing draw in their opening match of the AFC Champions League Elite campaign. The 1-1 stalemate against Iraq’s Al Shorta on Monday further compounded a slow start to the domestic season, adding pressure to the club and raising questions about their future.
“Al Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club,” stated a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “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, becomes the third coach to leave Al Nassr since Ronaldo’s groundbreaking arrival in early 2023. His contract, which was reportedly worth a staggering 400 million euros over two-and-a-half years, expires next summer. The first to depart was Frenchman Rudi Garcia in April, followed by a brief stint by Croatian coach Dinko Jelicic before Castro was appointed in July of last year.
Despite Ronaldo’s presence and the club’s significant investments, they have yet to secure a trophy in Saudi Arabia. Their sole silverware remains the Arab Club Champions Cup won last year. The team’s performance in the Saudi Pro League has also been underwhelming, finishing a distant second in the last season and drawing twice in their first three matches of the new campaign.
As Al Nassr continues to search for stability and success, the departure of Castro marks another chapter in the club’s turbulent journey since Ronaldo’s arrival. The club will be looking for a new coach to lead them towards their goals, both domestically and internationally, while Ronaldo continues to strive for more trophies in the latter stages of his illustrious career.
