Ronaldo drives Al Nassr transfer reset as club line up Bruno Fernandes approach

Cristiano Ronaldo has pushed through a new internal framework at Al Nassr that would hand full control of recruitment to the club’s sporting department – while he is also personally working to convince Bruno Fernandes to join him in Saudi Arabia.

According to local reports, the Portugal captain has laid out a clear roadmap he believes is essential to sustaining Al Nassr’s project, centred on removing administrative interference from transfer dealings ahead of next season.

Ronaldo is understood to have insisted that the duo leading the sporting set-up – sporting director Simo and chief executive Semedo – be given complete autonomy over signings and departures, with no involvement from other parts of the club’s hierarchy.

The plan is designed to ensure that all decisions in the current summer window are taken on strictly footballing grounds, with a clear technical vision guiding both incoming and outgoing moves, and without internal obstacles that might undermine Al Nassr’s ambitions domestically and in continental competition.

Push for sporting independence

Ronaldo’s stance is that Simo and Semedo must be allowed to operate independently in identifying and securing targets, as well as shaping the overall squad structure, in order to build a team capable of challenging on all fronts.

He has made it clear he does not want administrative figures to have a say in the selection of players, with the objective of creating a more streamlined and professional recruitment process that is fully aligned with the coaching and sporting strategy.

This approach is seen within the club as central to Al Nassr’s summer market strategy, as they look to refine a squad already built around Ronaldo and to close the gap on their rivals in the Saudi Pro League and in Asian competition.

Al Nassr eye Bruno Fernandes move

Alongside these internal changes, a strong proposal has emerged within Al Nassr’s hierarchy to open formal lines of communication with Bruno Fernandes, with the intention of establishing his financial conditions as a first step towards possible negotiations.

The club are weighing up a move for the Manchester United midfielder and are keen to understand what it would take to tempt him to make the switch from Old Trafford.

Reports indicate that Ronaldo is playing an active role in this process, holding intensive discussions with his Portugal team-mate to sell him on the wider Saudi Pro League project and Al Nassr’s sporting vision in particular.

Ronaldo and those at Al Nassr are looking to capitalise on the current impasse over Bruno Fernandes’ contract renewal talks with Manchester United, seeing the uncertainty as a potential opening to bring him in during the ongoing transfer window.

Should Al Nassr succeed in securing the 29-year-old, the club believe he would significantly strengthen their attacking options and add a new creative dimension in midfield alongside Ronaldo, enhancing both chance creation and overall attacking fluidity.

For now, the focus inside Al Nassr is twofold: consolidating Ronaldo’s new transfer structure, with Simo and Semedo given the lead, and testing the waters over a high-profile move for Bruno Fernandes that could reshape their squad ahead of the coming campaign.