Al Nassr, the Saudi Arabian club led by Cristiano Ronaldo, has announced the departure of their Portuguese coach Luis Castro. This comes after a disappointing start to the AFC Champions League Elite campaign and a lackluster domestic season. Castro is the third coach to leave the club since Ronaldo’s arrival in early 2023.
Al Nassr, missing Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte, had to settle for a draw against Al Shorta in their opening game of the Saudi Pro League season. The game was a tense affair with both sides creating chances, but in the end, the teams were unable to find a winner.
The first edition of the AFC Champions League Elite kicks off with Saudi Arabian clubs boasting star power like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Riyad Mahrez. The Saudi Pro League, bolstered by significant investment, aims to dominate Asian football. The tournament format has undergone changes, making it more competitive and lucrative, with a $10 million prize for the winner.
Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad has secured the services of winger Steven Bergwijn from Ajax Amsterdam for a fee exceeding 21 million euros. The transfer marks the end of Bergwijn’s successful stint with the Dutch giants, who had acquired him from Tottenham Hotspur in 2022 for a record transfer fee in the Eredivisie.
Despite a quieter transfer window compared to last year’s spending spree, the Saudi Pro League’s ambition remains strong. While no megastars joined this year, significant signings like Ivan Toney and Joao Cancelo signal continued investment in the league, aiming to attract top talent and further enhance its competitiveness.
England striker Ivan Toney has moved to the Saudi Pro League, joining Al-Ahli from Brentford in a permanent transfer for a reported £40 million. Toney, a key figure in Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League, was banned for eight months last season due to betting rule violations. The 28-year-old, who scored 72 goals in 141 appearances for Brentford, has also played for England.
The summer transfer window is closing, and clubs are scrambling to finalize deals. Follow along as Sportstar brings you the latest news on transfers happening around the world, including the Saudi Pro League’s last-minute bids, Juan Bernat’s loan move, and Ivan Toney’s medical with Al Ahli.
Joao Cancelo, the Portuguese defender for Manchester City, has moved to the Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal. The 30-year-old joins after winning three Premier League titles with City and a loan spell with Barcelona. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal’s defender Saud Abdulhamid has joined AS Roma, marking a significant transfer in Serie A.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Talisca led Al-Nassr to a convincing 4-1 victory over Al-Feiha in the Saudi Pro League, securing their first win of the season. Ronaldo scored his 899th career goal and assisted Talisca, who bagged a brace. Marcelo Brozovic added another goal for Al-Nassr.
Brazilian star Vinicius Jr is considering a massive offer from Saudi Arabia, potentially worth over a billion euros. While he is open to exploring the proposal, Real Madrid, his current club, has shown no interest in negotiating a transfer, citing his high buy-out clause. The move comes as Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in attracting top players to its domestic league.
