Sadio Mané bids farewell to Al-Nassr coach Luís Castro following dismissal
Sadio Mané took to social media on Tuesday to share a heartfelt farewell message for his former coach Luís Castro, who was dismissed from his role at Al-Nassr earlier in the day.
On Monday, Al-Nassr faced Al-Shorta in the first group stage match of the AFC Champions League.
Despite Mané’s efforts, the team could only manage a 1-1 draw.
This result, combined with a disappointing start to the Saudi Pro League season—where Al-Nassr sits in seventh place after three matches—ultimately led to Castro’s dismissal on Tuesday afternoon.
Castro, a 63-year-old Portuguese coach, joined Al-Nassr in July 2023 but struggled to achieve the results expected by the club.
Just hours after the announcement of his sacking, Sadio Mané, who joined Al-Nassr earlier this year, expressed his gratitude and support for his former coach.
In a message posted on social media, Mané shared a photo alongside Castro, accompanied by a brief but heartfelt note: “All the best my friend,” wrote the Senegalese forward, who previously played for Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
The dismissal of Castro marks a turbulent period for Al-Nassr, a club with high ambitions both domestically and in Asian competitions.
Mané’s message highlights the respect and camaraderie that existed between the coach and his players, despite the challenging circumstances on the pitch.
While Castro’s tenure at Al-Nassr has come to an abrupt end, Mané and the rest of the squad will now look to regroup under new leadership as they continue their campaign in both the Saudi Pro League and the AFC Champions League.
The club has not yet announced a successor for Castro.
The departure of Castro also adds to the list of recent managerial changes in Saudi football, as clubs seek the right formula for success in a rapidly evolving league.
Mané, who was brought in to boost Al-Nassr’s attacking options, will now adapt to his second manager at the club in a short span, as Al-Nassr aims to turn around its fortunes in the coming weeks.
