Cristiano Ronaldo’s club, Al Nassr, announced on Tuesday the departure of their Portuguese coach, Luis Castro.
This decision came just a day after the team’s underwhelming start to their AFC Champions League Elite campaign, where they were held to a 1-1 draw against Iraq’s Al Shorta.
The disappointing result in the Asian competition added to the club’s sluggish start in the Saudi Pro League, where they’ve managed just two draws in their first three matches of the season.
The future of Ronaldo, now 39, has also come into focus, as his current contract with Al Nassr is set to expire next summer.
In a statement posted on X account, Al Nassr confirmed the departure of Castro, “Al Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club. 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 landmark arrival at the Riyadh-based club in early 2023.
The Portuguese superstar, who signed a contract reportedly worth €400 million over two-and-a-half years, has yet to claim a Saudi Pro League title.
Al Nassr’s only significant silverware since Ronaldo’s arrival has been the Arab Club Champions Cup, won last year.
Luis Castro had been appointed in July 2023 following the departure of Croatian coach Dinko Jelicic, who took charge after the abrupt exit of Frenchman Rudi Garcia earlier in April.
Despite Ronaldo’s star power, Al Nassr finished second in the Saudi Pro League last season, a far cry from the dominance expected when the Portuguese icon joined.
Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia was a precursor to a wave of high-profile transfers to the kingdom, with the likes of Neymar and Karim Benzema also signing lucrative contracts with Saudi clubs. Yet, despite the influx of global talent, Al Nassr has struggled to assert themselves as title contenders domestically.
