Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr brutally sack manager just THREE games into new season with replacement already lined up
CRISTIANO RONALDO’S side Al-Nassr have sacked manager Luis Castro.
The Portuguese boss has been given his marching orders just three games into the new season, having one won and drawn two.
Al-Nassr currently sit seventh after three games, and are yet to lose this season.
A statement said: “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, has been in charge of the Saudi Arabian side since last summer when he replaced former Napoli manager Rudi Garcia.
Castro guided Al-Nassr to second place in the Saudi Pro League last term, finishing 14 points behind Neymar’s Al-Hilal.
This is despite club talisman Ronaldo scoring 35 goals during the season to be the league’s top scorer.
The hope was that Castro could close in on the Saudi title this term, but the club have made a poor start to the campaign.
Al-Nassr were beaten 4-1 in the Saudi Super Cup final in pre-season, and were held to two 1-1 draws with mid-table teams this term.
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Reports suggest that the Saudi club are on the verge of hiring former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli.
The 58-year-old parted ways with the Rossoneri after five years in May.
He guided AC Milan to the Serie A title in 2022 and earned his first major trophy.
When Ronaldo made the switch to Al Nassr in December 2022, Garcia was the manager.
The Frenchman was sacked after a feisty confrontation with players in April 2023, as Ronaldo expressed his dissatisfaction with his tactics.
The club’s under-19 coach Dinko Jelicic took over on an interim basis for eight games when Garcia was sacked.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that Ronaldo eats a different meal to every other Al-Nassr player and keeps his team-mates diets in check too.
Former Manchester United star Alex Telles told how Ronaldo “gets his own meal. The food is different, the nutritionist arrives with the plate already served.”
The 39-year-old has won one trophy with Al-Nassr.
It came after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner bagged a brace in the final of the Arab Club Champions Cup final against Al-Hilal in 2023.