Marcelo Brozović (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Former Al Nassr coach Luis Castro denies rumors that Marcelo Brozović influenced his dismissal, stating his exit was due to poor results, not player interference.
Reports from Arab media recently alleged that Marcelo Brozović, the Croatian midfielder and Al Nassr star, was behind the dismissal of coach Luis Castro. The rumors suggested that Brozović had boycotted Castro, leading to his eventual exit from the club. However, the Portuguese manager has now spoken out, firmly denying the accusations.
"That is a lie. It didn’t happen," Castro stated in an interview. "If it had happened, either I would have left, or the player would have gone. But it’s simply not true."
Castro joined Al Nassr from Botafogo, and Brozović, who signed for the Saudi club in the summer of 2023, was one of the first key signings under his tenure. Despite being one of the club's top performers alongside the ever-dominant Cristiano Ronaldo, rumors of a rift with Brozović had gained traction following Al Nassr’s poor results earlier in the season.
Castro admitted that his dismissal was solely due to a lack of results, not any player influence. "Ronaldo didn’t campaign for my stay after poor performances because, in football, you live and die by results," he explained. "It wasn’t in my interest to have players defending me. That’s not their job – it’s mine."
Following Castro’s departure, Al Nassr appointed Stefano Pioli, the former AC Milan coach, as his replacement. Meanwhile, Brozović remains a key figure for the Saudi club, having made 64 appearances and scored six goals since his arrival.