Al Nassr have been aggressive in the transfer market this summer, building a squad to contend alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. One of their marquee signings was Joao Felix, who left Chelsea to join his compatriot in Riyadh in pursuit of titles.
However, the move sparked controversy among fans who believed the 25-year-old forward should have stayed in Europe—particularly with Benfica, where he began his professional career.
After scoring a pre-season hat trick against Rio Ave, Ronaldo addressed the backlash and pushed back on claims that Al Nassr “stole” Felix from Benfica. “Stealing? That’s a harsh word! Nobody stole anything from anyone,” Ronaldo said. “Everyone knows Joao, he has a lot of talent. He’s going to help us a lot in a Saudi league that is very competitive”.
There was plenty of talk about the influence Cristiano Ronaldo may have had on the former Atletico Madrid player’s decision to become his new teammate. However, Ronaldo himself dismissed those rumors with a candid response.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates with Joao Felix after scoring their team’s first goal via a penalty during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
“I don’t call anyone. You were the ones who said that,” he said, pointing at the reporters. “I don’t call anyone, that’s not my role. My role is to train, to play well, to score goals if possible. But picking up the phone and calling someone is not part of my job”.
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Al Nassr target more big-name signings
Joao Felix’s arrival was not the only move Al Nassr have made this summer. The Saudi side also signed veteran Barcelona defender Iñigo Martinez on a deal worth $10 million per season, and they could soon announce another European star.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Al Nassr have opened negotiations with Bayern Munich to sign French forward Kingsley Coman. The 29-year-old has been with the Bundesliga club since 2015 and is under contract until June 2027. Coman famously scored the winning goal in Bayern’s 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020 UEFA Champions League final—against his former club.
