Jorge Jesus officially joins Al-Nassr and outlines one of his goals: “Helping Cristiano Ronaldo win in Saudi Arabia”
Portuguese coach returns to Saudi Arabia with a clear mission: lift titles alongside CR7
Jorge Jesus is officially back in Saudi Arabian football and this time, he’s taking charge of Al-Nassr, home to none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese manager, 70, signed a deal valid until the end of the 2025/26 season and landed in Riyadh on the same day the club confirmed his appointment.
Jesus Arrives in Riyadh, Brings Entire Coaching Staff
Jesus didn’t come alone. He was joined on his journey from Lisbon by his trusted team:
- Assistants: João de Deus, Tiago Oliveira, and Fábio Jesus
- Fitness coaches: Márcio Sampaio and Ricardo Silva
- Analysts: Gil Henriques and Rodrigo Araújo
The veteran coach expressed excitement about his new chapter in the Gulf region:
“I love being in Saudi Arabia because it’s the country of the future in football and beyond. I’ve always been happy here. I’ve always won, and now I’m going to try to do it again.”
“I Couldn’t Say No to Cristiano Ronaldo”
A major highlight of his statement was Jesus’s acknowledgment of Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal invitation:
“Without Ronaldo’s challenge, I certainly wouldn’t be here. He’s won everything in his career except in Saudi Arabia. I’ll do my best to help him win here. We speak the same language, and that makes things easier.”
This confirms what had been rumored for weeks that Cristiano played a central role in convincing Jorge Jesus to return to the Saudi Pro League, this time to lead Al-Hilal’s fierce rivals.
From Al-Hilal to Al-Nassr: “Like Going from Benfica to Sporting”
The manager addressed the elephant in the room his switch from Al-Hilal, where he was previously celebrated, to Al-Nassr:
“I was treated very well at Al-Hilal. But that’s football. It’s like going from Benfica to Sporting — rivals, yes, but it’s part of the job.”
Jesus Regrets Not Taking Brazil Job
In a candid moment, Jorge Jesus admitted a rare professional regret:
“Last year I made a mistake by not accepting the Brazilian national team’s proposal. I stayed loyal to Al-Hilal, but now I get a second chance to take on something just as big.”
A New Era at Al-Nassr
Jesus replaces Stefano Pioli, who departed after a disappointing season. Al-Nassr:
- Finished third in the Saudi Pro League, 13 points behind champions Al-Ittihad
- Missed out on the Asian Champions League
- Were eliminated early in domestic competitions
Clearly, Jorge Jesus has work to do and with Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and a squad full of stars, expectations are sky-high.
Cristiano Ronaldo Welcomes JJ
Shortly after the announcement, Cristiano Ronaldo posted:
“Welcome, sir”
A short but meaningful message from the team captain and a signal that the new project at Al-Nassr is a joint mission between superstar and coach.
