Hours After Champions League Dilemma, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Could Sign More European Stars as Saudi Chief Provides Update

Throughout this summer transfer window, Saudi Arabian clubs bolstered their squads as if there were no tomorrow. After signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr managed to lure in big names, just like their rivals. Although they do have a decent squad at their disposal, the hunger to add more stars to their ranks still persists. Fortunately, a major update from a Saudi Chief could help CR7’s side secure more European stars.

Currently, Ronaldo and his teammates are in a significant dilemma regarding the AFC Champions League. However, this update from the respected delegate might brighten the mood.

Al Nassr could sign more European stars after hearing a major update!

The summer witnessed a mass exodus of soccer stars from Europe to the SPL. Big names like Karim Benzema, Neymar Jr., and Riyad Mahrez followed in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and moved to the Middle East. As rival teams continued to bolster their squads, a competitive fire ignited inside Al Nassr and others to sign more players. However, the league’s rulebook didn’t allow them to make many further additions.

Interestingly, the Jeddah-based club and its domestic rivals are in for a treat as they might receive a major boost. Recently, the president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), Yasser Al-Mashal, provided a significant update on transfers. He said, “We are studying the decision to increase the number of foreign players”, as translated by DeepL.

Al-Mashal’s words suggest that the league is considering increasing the number of international players the domestic sides can sign. Previously, all clubs were allowed to sign no more than eight foreign players. Undoubtedly, the influx of European stars would benefit the domestic league as a whole.

Indeed, it is a significant boost for all the SPL teams, including Al Nassr. While Ronaldo’s side would be happy to hear this news, they would be disappointed to hear about their huge Champions League blow.

READ MORE: No WhatsApp & Instagram for Cristiano Ronaldo in Middle East as Al Nassr’s Rival Begs to Provide ‘Unlimited Access’ for Communication

Major Champions League blow for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is currently facing intense scrutiny due to potential violations of its own regulations on multi-club ownership. This issue has come to the forefront as three Saudi-backed clubs—Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Al Ittihad—supported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), have been granted entry into the tournament. Similar to UEFA’s rulebook, the AFC’s regulations prohibit clubs with the same owner from participating if their ownership stake collectively exceeds 30%.

However, in this case, the Saudi PIF holds a substantial 75% stake in each of these three clubs. Remarkably, all three PIF-owned clubs, in addition to SIP’s Al-Fayha, could also face each other in the last 16 of the tournament. Consequently, the AFC is now under immense pressure from its member clubs to provide an explanation for disregarding its own rules. Furthermore, clubs from the eastern region are considering legal action in response to these developments. Undoubtedly, this situation represents a significant setback for Ronaldo’s aspirations in the Champions League.

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