Months after Cristiano Ronaldo signed new contract, Al-Nassr put on sale as rumored reason for PIF decision comes to light

Saudi giants Al-Nassr have been put up for sale just months after Cristiano Ronaldo signed a mammoth new contract, as per reports. The club is one of four Public Investment Fund (PIF)-owned clubs to be put on the market for investors to try to buy stakes in them.

Journalist Ahmed Al-Ajlan has reported via Daily Mail that the PIF, owners of 75% stakes in the quartet of Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli, are looking to sell their shares. The decision to sell the clubs comes at a time when the Saudi Ministry of Sports is looking to slow down spending in the league.

The four biggest clubs in Saudi Arabia were placed under the care of the PIF in 2023, with the Ministry of Sports retaining a 25% stake in each of the clubs. Since then, the league has attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, and a host of A-list managers.

The involvement of the PIF in Saudi football was to enable clubs spend heavily, and fees of nearly £750 million were spent on signing new players ahead of the 2023-24 season. This summer has seen the spending reduce significantly, with the clubs working within a strict framework to monitor their spending.

The restrictions put in place have come after Cristiano Ronaldo committed his future to Al-Nassr earlier this summer. The 40-year-old signed a deal until 2027 worth a reported £492 million, the biggest such deal in world football.

Individuals have begun to indicate their interest in buying the clubs, which are expected to come under private ownership. The government's investment in the clubs helped to facilitate an impressive influx of talents, and they will now leave it to private individuals to maintain the standard of the clubs.

Saudi outfit eyeing move for Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr teammate: Reports

Saudi outfit Al-Ittihad are looking to sign Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr teammate Otavio on a permanent basis this summer, as per reports. The reigning champions are eyeing a move for the Portugal international as they look to strengthen their squad.

According to Saudi journalist @A_al3mer on X, talks are ongoing between the pair of Saudi giants over a move for Otavio. The Portuguese midfielder is being looked at as an alternative to Fabinho by the league champions, hence their interest in him.

Otavio was not listed in the squad that defeated Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup semi-final earlier this week. The 30-year-old has yet to feature under Jorge Jesus at the club and is set to leave before the end of the transfer window.

About the author

Sulayman is a European and international football writer at Sportskeeda covering news and transfer rumors. He has an overall experience of 4 years, having previously worked at the likes of SportsRation and ExtraTimeTalk. His tryst with the sport happened at a young age, playing it at home and watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Sulayman has a good feel for the game, which is reflected in his descriptive articles. He double checks information via multiple sources for accuracy, and only uses top-tier platforms like Transfermarkt and Opta for statistical information. His experience and exploits in the industry have led Sulayman to cover the Nigerian Professional League for three years along with games involving the Nigerian national team. He has also worked in F1, joining hands with industry veterans to provide a smooth viewing experience in Nigeria.

Sulayman hails Lionel Messi as the one true GOAT, and his brace in Argentina’s 2005 U20 FIFA World Cup final win over Nigeria left a lasting impact on him. He also supports Chelsea at club level, having followed their dominance under Jose Mourinho. Sulayman also follows other leagues with Nigerian players like Eredivisie, Saudi Pro League, Turkish Super Lig, and more. When not writing, he enjoys cooking and eating.

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Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen