Al Nassr, the dominant force in the Saudi Pro League, has made a significant move to secure their new head coach, fulfilling Cristiano Ronaldo’s desire. In an official announcement, the club revealed that Portuguese tactician Luis Castro will lead the team until 2025.
After a disappointing turn of events saw Rudi Garcia dismissed from his position, despite Al Nassr leading the league in January, the arrival of 61-year-old Castro brings fresh hope and renewed ambition to the club.
Numerous reports suggest that Castro’s appointment was influenced by captain Ronaldo himself, who held the Portuguese boss in high regard. The 26-year veteran of the coaching world shares a mutual admiration with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, making their collaboration all the more promising.
Notably, Castro’s previous role as the head of Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk saw him express skepticism about Real Madrid’s decision to part ways with Ronaldo in 2018. In an interview with the Daily Express, he remarked, “When we talk about Real, it’s Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Marco Asensio, Vinicius Jr, Sergio Ramos – a great team! When you have Cristiano, you should never let him go. Never! We are talking about the best, the most effective footballer in the world, a working machine.”
Castro, who recently tasted success by clinching the 2021/22 Emir of Qatar Cup with Al-Duhail, emerged victorious in the race for the Al Nassr job, triumphing over fellow countryman and former Wolverhampton Wanderers coach Bruno Lage.
In addition to the managerial coup, Al Nassr has also made waves in the transfer market by securing the services of Croatian superstar Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan in a lucrative €18 million (R371 million) deal. With such impressive acquisitions on and off the pitch, Al Nassr is poised to embark on an exciting new chapter under the guidance of Luis Castro.
Unique observer 24 