Al Nasr defeated Al Shabab 3-2 in round 16 of the Roshun Saudi League and moved to second place in the league standings with 34 points.
The match started well for Al Nasr, with Portuguese star Joao Felix opening the scoring in the second minute, followed by French star Kingsley Coman scoring with a brilliant bicycle kick in the eighth minute.
In the second half, Abdulrahman Gharib scored the winning goal in the 76th minute to secure victory. Al Nasr will next face Damak FC in Abha on January 21 as part of round 17 of the Saudi Roshun League. Cristiano and the rest of the team are hoping to advance in the tournament.
Ronaldo could soon be joined by a Portuguese teammate
Cristiano Ronaldo could be joined by another Portuguese if Al Nasr manager succeeds in signing Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes. Adding an elite playmaker has emerged as a priority for the 2026-27 season as the Saudi Pro League side looks to address a recent slump in form.
Al Nasr started the 2025-26 season well, but then fell into a slump, going four games without a win. This poor performance has seen Ronaldo’s team fall to second place in the league, seven points behind the leaders, and pressure is mounting on the club to strengthen its squad. According to CaughtOffside reporter Ekrem Konur, Al Nasr has identified Fernandes as a key target and is prepared to spend big to sign him.
The reported offer would see Fernandes earn around £700,000 a week, or around $938,000, making him one of the highest-paid midfielders in world football. From a sporting point of view, the move would give head coach Jorge Jesus a high-level, creative presence to partner with Marcelo Brozovic in central midfield, potentially reshaping Al Nasr’s balance and control in the match.
Another team may join the search
Fernandes has been Manchester United’s most influential player in recent seasons, but his future at Old Trafford looks increasingly uncertain. Reports suggest tensions are rising between the midfielder and the club, particularly following transfer rumors that Fernandes admitted had affected him mentally. The 31-year-old continues to struggle for stability at United, but is said to be open to new challenges.
Al-Nassr is not the only one they are interested in. One of their main domestic rivals, Al Hilal, is also reportedly monitoring Fernandes as a potential successor should Ruben Neves leave. Bayern Munich have similar links with the Portuguese international, creating a competitive market and could complicate Al Nasr’s signing. Still, Fernandes has previously expressed an openness to a move to the Saudi Professional League, and a financial package could be a deciding factor.
Since joining Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon for $65 million, Fernandes has built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most complete midfielders. He made an immediate impact on the offensive line, scoring 18 goals and dishing out 11 assists in his second season in the league. Over time, his role has evolved to become more focused on dictating plays and contributing defensively alongside Casemiro.
