Jose Mourinho & Cristiano Ronaldo Reunion Suffer Blow as Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad Frontrunners to Appoint Him

There have been some iconic player-coach partnerships in the soccer landscape. Be it the very classic duo of Lothar Matthaus and Franz Beckenbauer or the special Lionel Messi-Pep Guardiola duo, the list is endless. Among these revered names, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho were one such remarkable pair.

Speaking of the current scenario, while these two big Portuguese names were in contention to have a stunning reunion, it suffered a huge blow before it even started, as Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad is the frontrunner for his signature.

Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad set to hijack Jose Mourinho-Cristiano Ronaldo reunion

Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer to Al Nassr has led to the arrival of some of the biggest names in Saudi Arabia. Even today, not just players but some revered coaches are also linked to making a move to the Middle East. Surprisingly, Jose Mourinho was the latest entity to be linked to the exodus, as his name was earlier taken up at Al Nassr’s headquarters.

This gave hope to ardent soccer fans to relive the iconic duo of Ronaldo and Mourinho. Unfortunately, the hopes of a stunning reunion have suffered a significant setback before they could even materialize. This is because Al Ittihad, too, has joined the race and has emerged as the frontrunner to secure Mourinho’s services.

Apparently, the management of Al Ittihad is looking to sack their current coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, and replace him with an interim boss. And the club will be looking to sign a big-name manager next season to compete alongside their arch-rivals. It seems like Jose Mourinho is the leading contender to assume the managerial role at Al Ittihad next year.

Certainly, it’s not good news for both Ronaldo and Al Nassr. It remains to be seen who, between Al Nassr and Al Ittihad, can sign Mourinho. Meanwhile, Al Nassr is looking to add another star next season from Manchester City.

READ MORE: After Punching Rival, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Teammate Banned & Fined for ‘Disgraceful Behavior’

Al Nassr keen to sign Manchester City star

Recent reports suggest that Al Nassr is interested in signing Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne. The Knights of the Najd are prepared to offer $75 million for the Belgian maestro. Furthermore, they are also ready to triple his current $495,000 wages at City. Indeed, it would be another momentous arrival in the history of Al Nassr.

Notably, De Bruyne has been a part of City since 2015 after joining from Germany’s VfL Wolfsburg. Since then, the midfielder has left an indelible mark on the Blue side of Manchester, winning numerous individual and collective accolades. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how they manage to lure the Belgian superstar.

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