Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Nears Appointment of Real Madrid Legend as Sporting Director After CR7’s Recommendation Fell Through- Reports

Al Nassr is leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of excellence. Beyond their on-pitch endeavors, Luis Castro’s squad is also marching ahead with significant off-pitch advancements. After suffering a setback in an initial recommendation for a new sporting director from their star player Cristiano Ronaldo, reports indicate that the club is now on the brink of securing the services of Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro.

As compiled by an X account named @X99i3, the Knights of the Najd have been negotiating with the former Spain boss for quite some time. In fact, talks are progressing positively, with a final agreement between the two parties to be finalized in the coming days. Notably, Hierro is currently serving as a sporting director for Liga MX club C.D. Guadalajara since October 17, 2022. Interestingly, the former midfielder’s journey in this position started with the Spain U-20 in 2007, until he joined Málaga CF in the 2011–12 season for just two months. In 2014, he was called by Carlo Ancelotti to take up Real Madrid’s assistant manager role during his stint. 

However, that was short-lived, as two years later, he managed Secunda Division side Real Oviedo. Having again been called up by his nation as a sporting director, Hierro took charge of La Roja during the 2018 FIFA World Cup as a caretaker manager. Nevertheless, coming back, his CV looks quite impressive, which certainly builds up the case for Al Nassr to pursue his signature. It also comes as a huge boost for them, considering that Ronaldo’s previous recommendation snubbed their offer. 

Meet the man who rejected Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr for the sporting director role

Portugal’s Miguel Ribeiro surprisingly declined the offer from Al Nassr. According to reports, he went as far as issuing an apology to the club’s higher-ups. The club had anticipated that he would thoroughly assess the team before finalizing the contract. Ribeiro brought significant experience as a sporting director, having worked with various Portuguese clubs such as Rio Ave FC and Famalicao. In fact, Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t alone in recommending him.

Luis Castro also kept the name on the table. Remarkably, the position of sporting director has been vacant since December 2023, when Goran Vucevic abruptly resigned. Since then, the Yellow and Blues have been desperate to fill the void left by Vucevic. Despite facing rejection from Ribeiro, their search for the vacant role might finally come to an end with Fernando Hierro. Let’s see if they are able to secure his arrival. 

READ MORE: Internal Issues Blamed for Cristiano Ronaldo-Led Al Nassr’s Woes, While Luis Castro Receives Clear Verdict