A quiet storm is brewing in Riyadh. Following a season marked by high expectations and ultimate disappointment, Al-Nassr confirmed the departure of head coach Stefano Pioli, triggering a wave of reactions across the soccer world—including a brief but telling message from the club’s most high-profile player, Cristiano Ronaldo.
While many anticipated Ronaldo to stay silent amid the offseason changes, the 40-year-old finally broke his silence with a cryptic three-word message, drawing attention not only to Pioli’s exit but also to the broader restructuring efforts at the club.
Pioli’s tenure at Al-Nassr lasted less than a year. Appointed in September 2024, the former AC Milan and Fiorentina coach was expected to bring structure and discipline to a team stacked with international talent. But despite 28 wins in 44 matches, no silverware followed, and pressure mounted.
On June 25, Al-Nassr officially announced the end of their partnership with the Italian tactician. “Al Nassr Club Company informs that Mr. Pioli and his Staff are no more the acting coaching staff of the first team,” the club said in a statement. “We would like to thank Mr. Pioli and his staff for their dedicated work during the past season.”
This marks the third full-time coaching change for Al-Nassr since Ronaldo joined the club in January 2023, underlining a pattern of instability despite significant investment.
What did Ronaldo say?
Soon after the club’s announcement, Cristiano Ronaldo took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), sharing a short but heartfelt message in Italian directed at Pioli. The phrase—“Grazie per tutto”—meaning “Thanks for everything”, was accompanied by a praying hands emoji.
The message may have been brief, but it carried substantial weight. Under Pioli, Ronaldo scored 31 goals in 36 games, registering one of his best seasons in recent years. Still, the lack of collective success evidently wasn’t enough to justify continuity.
Neymar’s ex-boss the likely successor?
With the managerial seat now vacant, Neymar’s former coach at Al-Hilal, Jorge Jesus, has emerged as the front-runner, as per Foot Mercato. The experienced Portuguese manager, who won multiple domestic titles and set a world record with 34 consecutive wins at Al-Hilal, is reportedly in talks with Al-Nassr.
While Ronaldo and Jesus have never worked together, the two share mutual respect. Jesus has previously praised Ronaldo’s “work ethic and professionalism,” making a potential partnership highly anticipated.
Bringing Jesus into the fold could also reignite the fierce domestic rivalry between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, adding another layer of narrative to an already captivating soccer scene in Saudi Arabia.
