Tag: Saudi Pro League

Mohamed Salah benching fuels fresh Saudi Pro League move talk

Mohamed Salah
December 2025

Mohamed Salah’s omission from Liverpool’s starting line up for two straight league games under Arne Slot has revived Saudi Pro League plans for a marquee move, with league chiefs ready to underwrite a huge bid if the 33 year old shows any willingness to leave. Liverpool previously rejected a £150 million offer from Al Ittihad and Salah admitted earlier talks with Saudi officials were serious before signing a new deal to 2027, but his recent benching has shifted perceptions of his status as the league’s top active scorer and reopened speculation over his long term future.

Benzema seeks clarity from Al-Ittihad as European offers test his future

Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
November 2025

Karim Benzema admits he is uncertain about staying at Al-Ittihad beyond this season, with offers from Europe on the table. He wants to play at least two more years and refuses to drift toward retirement without fighting for major trophies. Early season struggles and vague sporting plans have left him frustrated despite feeling settled off the pitch. He insists his next step depends on Al-Ittihad presenting a serious, ambitious project quickly, otherwise he will consider a return to Europe to match his competitive standards.

Ronaldo scores and vents at referee in Al-Nassr win over Neom

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
November 2025

Filmed delivering a sarcastic tirade at halftime after a promising attack was blown dead, Ronaldo later converted a penalty for a 3–1 victory. He continues a prolific chase toward 1,000 career goals, reaching 953 and 83 in the Saudi Pro League. The match flipped after a blocked Ronaldo effort led to a shove on João Félix for the decisive spot-kick. Post-whistle irony targeted the officiating, but performance remained decisive. Luis Maximiano guessed wrong from 12 yards as Al-Nassr preserved a perfect league start.

Ronaldo brace turns Al-Nassr’s scare into late win

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
November 2025

Al-Nassr beat Al-Feiha 2-1 after trailing to Jason’s breakaway. A VAR offside ruled out a Kingsley Coman (Al-Nassr) strike, but Ronaldo equalized from a slick move, then buried a stoppage-time penalty. After a cup exit, league leaders stayed perfect with seven wins from seven. Al-Nassr’s high line was punished once, then adjusted. Wide rotations with João Félix (Al-Nassr) and Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr) created half-spaces, feeding Ronaldo. VAR setbacks tested composure; sustained pressure forced the late error for the penalty. Title intent clear, but the backline’s recovery speed needs tightening versus direct counters.

Benzema decisive as Al-Ittihad oust Al-Nassr in King’s Cup

Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
October 2025

Al-Ittihad beat Al-Nassr 2–1 to reach the quarter-finals, with Karim Benzema scoring and Houssem Aouar netting the winner. Despite long spells of Al-Nassr pressure and a second-half red card for Al-Ittihad, Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and João Félix could not convert late dominance into goals as the holders’ defensive resolve held. Ittihad struck via a rapid transition—Moussa Diaby’s cross for Benzema—then absorbed sustained pressure, leaning on compact mid-block spacing and penalty-box discipline. After going down to 10, they tightened lanes and slowed tempo. Al-Nassr created volume without high-quality finishes. Tactical takeaway: Ittihad’s counter-efficiency and box defending can offset possession deficits in knockout ties.

Ronaldo tipped to play past 42 with 1,000-goal dream alive

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr; Portugal)
October 2025

Simpson predicted Ronaldo will extend his career beyond 42. Ronaldo has 105 goals in 118 Al-Nassr games, back-to-back Golden Boots, and eyes 2026 World Cup selection while targeting 1,000 competitive goals and the possibility of sharing a pitch professionally with Cristiano Jr. Output remains elite via shot volume, penalties, and set-piece threat. Team silverware is the next target as Al-Nassr lead early in the Saudi Pro League. Longevity plan centers on workload management, defined penalty-box roles alongside Sadio Mané/João Félix, and selective international minutes.

Felix hat-trick, Ronaldo rocket in Al-Nassr rout

Al-Nassr
October 2025

Al-Nassr stayed perfect with a 5–1 win. Félix netted a hat-trick; Ronaldo recovered from a saved penalty to blast a go-ahead strike and add an assist as the leaders maintained maximum points through five rounds. Early pressure yielded Félix’s opener before Al Fateh’s equaliser. A handball penalty was saved, but Ronaldo’s edge-of-box strike restored control. Félix exploited inside-left lanes for two more before Kingsley Coman and late combinations finished the job.

Benzema targeted by Fenerbahce for January European return

Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
October 2025

Fenerbahce are preparing a January move for Benzema to fix their goalscoring struggles. The 37-year-old Ballon d’Or winner earns €50m annually in Saudi Arabia but is reportedly open to returning to Europe. Club president Sadettin Saran has endorsed the pursuit.
Talks may accelerate if Benzema’s camp shows interest. Underperforming forward Jhon Duran could depart to make room. If negotiations fail, Fenerbahce will pivot to other strikers. The move would reunite Benzema with European competition and restore his late-career visibility.

Blanc Sacked by Al-Ittihad After Ronaldo Defeat

Laurent Blanc
September 2025

Al-Ittihad dismissed Laurent Blanc a day after losing 2-0 to Al-Nassr, their third defeat of the season. The Frenchman, who guided them to a league and cup double last year, paid the price for defensive struggles and poor recent form. Goals from Sadio Mané and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed Blanc’s fate. Despite boasting Karim Benzema, Blanc lamented injury-hit backline options. The club confirmed his exit via social media, ending his brief Saudi tenure after just over a year in charge.

Felix Predicts Al-Nassr Will Push Closer to Title

João Félix (Al-Nassr)
September 2025

João Félix declared Al-Nassr “closer to the title” after his electric start in Saudi Arabia alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring five goals in three league matches as Jorge Jesus’ side extended their perfect campaign with another dominant win. Félix credited teammates for making football “easier,” saying their collective quality drives individual brilliance. With Ronaldo also on form, Al-Nassr’s attack looks unstoppable. Félix insisted consistency and clean sheets must improve but believes togetherness will power their title challenge across the season.

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