Arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo—despite the ripe age of 39—remains ever so lethal in chasing individual and club records.
One would think that, after achieving everything there is in the sport barring an elusive World Cup, CR7 (as he’s so famously known) can easily rest on his laurels and be at peace with a career not even the dreamiest of dreamers can dream of.
But there are still records to be chased and trophies to be won. And as the Saudi Pro League heats up underneath the desert sun, so is Ronaldo’s desire to add more to his legacy that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.
And who better to aid him than an experienced manager who’s won in the biggest of stages.
A new boss
When Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr from Manchester United back in 2023, most were expecting that it’d be a cakewalk for him. He’d dominate the league only very few knew about and win endless trophies to his heart’s content.
Fast forward to today, and despite all the big-name signings to aid Ronaldo in his cause, Al-Nassr are yet to have a domestic trophy to show for.
Instead, what they have is a plethora of runners-up spots—mostly against rivals Al-Hilal, who possess the same financial backing.
That is why, after a start that’s much less to be desired by the club hierarchy, Luis Castro was relieved of his position in place of Stefano Pioli. A move that showed Al-Nassr’s desire to unseat Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
The Italian manager will be the fourth one in Saudi Arabia that Ronaldo will work with.
Under former boss Castro, Ronaldo flourished and won the Golden Boot last season, finishing with 35 goals in 31 league matches.
However, they won no trophies as a pair. Something that Pioli will be looking to avoid.
Aside from managing Milan, Pioli has also been around the block, managing other Italian sides like Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, Parma and Chievo Verona.
The Al-Nassr job will be his first outside of Italy.
With his pedigree, Ronaldo’s chance of lifting a sought-after domestic title in the Arabian Peninsula has increased. Although, with a stacked squad, they will always be in the mix for the title, with the SBOTOP Saudi Pro League 2024 odds never failing to back CR7’s chances.
What Pioli brings, aside from a wealth of experience, are tactically sound game plans that have stood the test of time.
He is versatile, which allows for his teams to play solidly from the back, all the way in front. His focus on youth is also regarded, as evidenced by the young talents he helped hone in Milan.
Lest we forget, he was the one who signed Rafael Leao to AC Milan, and what a player Leao turned out to be.
And with Al-Nassr securing the services of youngsters Angelo Gabriel and Wesley—from Chelsea and Corinthians, respectively—the timing of Pioli’s arrival couldn’t have been any better.
Only time will tell if his appointment is a successful one.
Thankfully for Al-Nassr fans, his debut against Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq was a good sign. A 3-0 romping of the home side, Cristiano Ronaldo opened the floodgates with a 33rd-minute penalty after Sultan Al-Ghannam was fouled by Abdullah Madu.
Of course, CR7 made no mistake in converting the penalty, sending Marek Rodak the wrong way.
Al-Nassr would eventually run Al-Ettifaq off the pitch as two more goals from Anderson Talisca and Salem Alnajdi put Pioli’s start in a good light.
He would go on to make it two wins in two matches, this time in a King’s Cup match against second-tier side Al-Hazem.
Sadio Mane and Nawaf Boushal were the scorers in a 2-1 win, which made headlines as Ronaldo was nowhere to be found in the team sheet.
But according to Saudi Pro League 2024 news, Pioli wanted his star man to get some much-deserved rest ahead of their more important matches against Al-Rayyan (AFC Champions League) and Al-Wehda (Saudi Pro League).
And if Ronaldo hopes to continue playing well into his 40s, then a rest every now and then is vital. He, of all people, understands this.
Here’s hoping for a fruitful spell between him and Pioli.
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