Al Nassr’s debts have climbed past 800 million Saudi riyals, around $213 million, and the club’s owner has effectively pulled the plug on the summer window while it tries to plug the hole.
That is the picture painted by Goal and Saudi newspaper Arriyadiyah, whose reporting has since been picked up widely.
Several first-team players received only partial payment of their June salaries, with outstanding amounts still being settled.
Recruitment has been suspended indefinitely, a deal to sign Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa from Real Mallorca has been left on the shelf, and the replacement in midfield for the departed Marcelo Brozovic remains on hold.
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PIF pulls the handbrake
The Saudi Public Investment Fund, which owns the club, has moved to strip Al Nassr’s executive management of its authority to sign players and imposed a three-point restructuring plan.
According to Goal, the club is now under strict supervision from the Saudi Professional Football League, and the directive from above is blunt.
“There will be no contract agreements as long as the management does not provide liquidity from the club’s revenues.”
External financial, commercial and legal consultants have been brought in to raise revenues, cut spending and set a recovery timeline.
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PIF is also assessing two serious takeover offers, though it is understood to prefer a partial sale rather than a full exit.
Postecoglou inherits the mess
The financial paralysis lands on the desk of Ange Postecoglou, who was named head coach on 3 July on a two-year deal after Jorge Jesus stepped down.
The Australian, hired to build on last season’s Saudi Pro League title, faces pre-season with no incoming signings and a squad expected to compete on four fronts.
Rivals are not standing still. Al Hilal have already strengthened, and the gap in the middle of the pitch left by Brozovic remains unfilled while Al Nassr wait for the owner to open the vault.
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And Ronaldo?
The 41-year-old flew home from Dallas after Portugal were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the Round of 16 on 6 July, Mikel Merino scoring in the dying moments.
Ronaldo said afterwards it had been his last World Cup, telling reporters he was in no mood to make a snap call on his international future.
“I won’t be making any rash decisions. I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment.”
His deal at Al Nassr, signed in the flush of Saudi football’s biggest-ever spending spree, was supposed to buy him a squad built to challenge Al Hilal.
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He returns instead to a club that cannot afford to strengthen around him, and whose owner is quietly listening to offers from anyone willing to take a piece off its hands.
