Al-Riyadh newspaper reported that Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus is refusing to discuss renewing his contract with the Saudi club at this time, primarily due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent situation.
Ronaldo refused to participate in the last two matches against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad in protest against the Saudi Investment Fund’s policies in the last winter transfer window, specifically its failure to adequately support Al-Nassr while providing substantial support to Al-Hilal.
Jesus took over as Al-Nassr coach at the beginning of this season on a one-year contract. The club’s management has been trying to extend the Portuguese coach’s stay for two more years, but he refuses even to discuss the idea, waiting to learn Ronaldo’s fate first.
Jesus has a close relationship with Ronaldo and has made it clear that the 40-year-old’s continued presence is essential for his own tenure. This implies that the Portuguese legend’s departure would inevitably mean his compatriot’s departure from coaching the Jeddah-based club.
If Ronaldo stays, Jesus’s future is uncertain, as the coach is demanding guarantees that his transfer requests will be met in the upcoming summer window and that the winter transfer window scenario, which he believes undermined Al-Nassr’s chances of winning titles, will not be repeated.
It’s worth noting that Al-Nassr currently sits second in the Saudi Pro League standings, one point behind leaders Al-Hilal. The Saudi club has also reached the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League. Their only setback this season was an early exit from the King’s Cup at the hands of Al-Ittihad.
