(foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly wants Al Nassr to sign former teammate Casemiro as part of his conditions for renewing his contract with the Saudi club.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al Nassr remains uncertain, with only six months left on his current contract. The Portuguese star is expected to begin negotiations with the club soon regarding a possible extension. According to a report by Marca, one of Ronaldo’s key requests to secure his continuity is the signing of Casemiro, his former teammate at both Real Madrid and Manchester United.
The Saudi Pro League returns on Thursday for Al Nassr, who will face Al-Okhdood after a lengthy break. Ronaldo last featured for Al Nassr on **6th December**, in a match against Al-Ittihad, where he crossed paths with former teammate Karim Benzema. Despite Ronaldo’s goal in that match, Al Nassr lost after a stoppage-time winner from Bergwijn.
With six months remaining on his deal, Ronaldo is eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club if he wishes. However, his priority appears to be staying in Saudi Arabia, where he hopes to continue building a competitive squad. To that end, he is keen on a reunion with Casemiro, with whom he shared some of his greatest successes at Real Madrid, including three consecutive Champions League titles.
The potential move for Casemiro is complicated. Reports suggest that the Brazilian is unhappy at Manchester United, as his season has been marred by form issues and a change in the managerial setup. Under former coach Erik ten Hag, Casemiro was a key player, but current boss Ruben Amorim has sidelined him in favor of Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo. Despite these issues, Casemiro still has a contract with United until 2026, and given the club’s substantial investment of €72 million plus €13 million in variables when signing him in 2022, the decision to leave would require careful consideration.
Casemiro is now in his third season at Old Trafford. He joined United in the summer of 2022, shortly after helping Real Madrid win the European Super Cup. While his arrival was initially seen as a key move to bring experience and leadership to United’s midfield, the current situation has cast doubt on his future. Ronaldo, on the other hand, hopes that Casemiro might be persuaded to join him in Saudi Arabia to strengthen Al Nassr’s push for trophies.
It remains to be seen whether Al Nassr can meet Ronaldo’s request and whether Casemiro would be open to a move to the Saudi Pro League. If the deal goes through, it would not only boost Al Nassr’s squad but also reunite two players who shared some of football’s greatest moments together.