Cristiano Ronaldo joins $500m bid to take control of Al-Nassr

Portuguese reports say a five-person investment group including Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing a formal offer to acquire Al-Nassr from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The proposed consortium also includes Gerry Cardinale, chief executive of RedBird Capital and owner of Italian club AC Milan, alongside Saudi businessmen Ibrahim Al-Muhaidib, Mohammed Al-Khereiji and Sharaf Al-Hariri.

Ronaldo’s involvement could take his relationship with Al-Nassr into a new phase. Since joining the Saudi Pro League, the Portuguese forward has been the club’s most prominent figure both on and off the pitch.

If the takeover is completed, Ronaldo would move beyond his role as Al-Nassr captain and leading goalscorer to become one of the club’s investors. That could give him greater influence over the team’s long-term direction.

The report, published by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, says the group plans to submit an offer to the PIF, which holds a controlling stake in Al-Nassr. Any discussions between the two sides would therefore be significant for the future ownership and operation of the club.

The proposed investment would require each of the five members to commit close to $100m. That would give the consortium an estimated combined capital of about $500m to support the takeover and the club’s future plans.

The group brings together three Saudi investors with Ronaldo and Cardinale. Its membership therefore combines local knowledge of the Saudi sports market with international experience of football investment and club ownership.

Cardinale’s involvement gives the proposed bid an additional international dimension. Through RedBird Capital and his ownership of AC Milan, he has experience of managing sports organisations and investing in football.

According to the Portuguese report, the process has now reached a sensitive stage. Representatives of RedBird and the wider consortium are expected to meet PIF officials in the coming period to discuss the proposed offer.

PIF’s response will be decisive. Approval would allow negotiations to progress towards a transfer of Al-Nassr’s ownership to the investment group, while rejection would bring the talks to an end.

The reports come as Al-Nassr enters a significant period both competitively and financially. Any change to the club’s ownership structure would have the potential to reshape its next phase.

Should the negotiations lead to a formal agreement, the deal would rank among the most prominent takeovers in Saudi football. Its significance would stem not only from the scale of the proposed investment, but also from Ronaldo’s presence among the investors seeking to guide Al-Nassr into a new era.