Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a major problem at Al-Nassr with the Saudi Pro League club reportedly in deep financial trouble. According to Saudi publication Al-Riyadiah, Al-Nassr are in debt of 800 million riyals (£160m), with the figure stemming entirely from financial decisions made during the last season.
PIF restrictions on new signings
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) are said to have prohibited new signings without sufficient funds generated from sponsorship or internal revenues. This throws the club’s immediate future into turmoil with new manager Ange Postecoglou seemingly about to be restricted in the market.
Al-Nassr won the Saudi Pro League last season under manager Jorge Jesus and stars like Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Sadio Mane, Kingsley Coman and Inigo Martinez.
Ronaldo's frustration
To make matters worse, Ronaldo was left furious when his former Real Madrid team-mate was controversially sold from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal, and not Al-Nassr, in the middle of a title race, despite all three clubs being owned by the PIF. Ronaldo went on strike to make his anger public before returning to the squad and ending the season in tears as he emotionally celebrated his first major silverware in the Middle East.
PIF's plan for recovery
PIF are reportedly formulating a plan to right the ship and have identified three key paths which will see the executive management’s financial powers restricted, with an independent financial, commercial and legal firm contracted to increase revenues. However, the PIF also reportedly have two serious offers on the table to purchase the club. But it’s said they would prefer to sell only part of the club rather than relinquish their entire control.
Postecoglou's first address
Postecoglou will lead the team this season and the former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest manager’s first address to his players went viral. He said: “First thing with me, very simple – respect. Respect above everything else. Don’t need a lot of rules or tell you what to do. Just respect. Respect each other. Every day we come here, we appreciate the life we have because we’re all very lucky. We’re blessed to do what we do. So I expect every day you come in with a smile on your face. Just try to be the best you can be, every day. It doesn’t mean you will be the best every day because we’re human beings.”
