Al-Nasr coach certainly wants Mohamed Salah to join Cristiano Ronaldo, with the aim of creating a strong attack in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Nasr are exploring a move to bring Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia, with the aim of pairing the Liverpool striker alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in one of the most iconic attacking combinations in the game. Interest is not speculation. According to Saudi outlet Okaz, coach Jorge Jesus has given his approval for the club to pursue Salah in the upcoming summer window. The move comes at a time when Salah, Liverpool’s Egyptian striker and one of the most consistent scorers in the English Premier League over the past decade, has already indicated that he will leave Anfield after the 2025-26 season. However, any deal depends on several moving parts, including Jesus’ contract situation, competition from other Saudi clubs, and Salah’s final decision on his next destination.
Jorge Jesus’ position and the internal situation
The sources cited by Okaz indicate that Jesus “definitely wants” Salah at the club and is open to building his attack around the Egyptian striker alongside Ronaldo. The Portuguese coach believes that Salah fits directly into his system, both tactically and in terms of personal profile. However, there is a condition attached. Negotiations are underway between Al-Nasr management and Jesus regarding a contract extension, and it is necessary to clarify his future before the club moves forward with major transfer decisions.
Until this is resolved, the deal remains in a holding pattern.
Competition, the club’s position, and Salah’s invitation
Even with the support of the technical director, the transfer process is not easy. Okaz reported that Al-Nasr management still needs to make a final decision regarding the financial and sporting scope of the deal, especially with the expected interest from other Saudi League teams. Salah’s position will also be crucial. He is expected to have multiple offers, and the club’s choice in terms of project or role remains open.
Former professional footballer Paul Jose Mpoko has suggested that a move to Saudi Arabia is a possibility, describing it as something that had been expected for years given Mohamed Salah’s stature in the region. Salah has long been seen as a cultural bridge within the Middle East football scene, a figure whose influence extends far beyond the pitch, and fans and commentators alike have been anticipating his return closer to that audience.Speaking to GOAL, Mboko said: “I think Mohamed Salah will probably go to Saudi Arabia. I don’t know if it’s Al-Nasr, but yes, he will go. But now also the Public Investment Fund, they are trying to sell the club. So if the owner comes and says: I want to buy Al-Nasr, and this owner buys players, it will be fine.”
Salah’s dismissal at Liverpool and the current situation
Salah, the Egyptian Liverpool striker who spent nine seasons at the club, is third on the all-time top scorers list and has won several major trophies, including two Premier League titles and a Champions League. His decision to leave marks the end of one of the most productive periods in the club’s recent history. This season, he participated in 38 matches in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing 9 assists. However, his career was ended due to a hamstring injury sustained during the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, with Egypt national team manager Ibrahim Hassan indicating that his availability for the rest of the season was unlikely.
Liverpool player Mohamed Salah leaves the field after being substituted during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace in Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Al-Nasr lineup and its long-term ambition
Al-Nasr’s interest in Salah comes within a broader effort to reassert itself locally.
The club has not won the Saudi Professional League title since 2019 and is competing against the recent dominance of Al Hilal and Al Ittihad. Their current squad already includes a number of notable players: Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, French winger Kingsley Coman, former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, Portuguese striker Joao Felix, and Spanish defender Inigo Martinez, who won the Spanish League with Barcelona in 2025. Adding Salah to that group, alongside Ronaldo, would represent a clear statement of intent, both on the pitch and commercially, as the club looks to build a team capable of reclaiming the league title.
What will this step represent?
The prospect of Salah and Ronaldo playing together brings together two of the most iconic strikers of their generation, one who remains a regular in the Portugal national team squad, and the other an iconic figure in Liverpool’s recent history. For Al-Nassr, the deal depends on internal clarity, competition across the league, and the player’s own decision. For now, interest has been confirmed, approval has been obtained, and the next step depends on how these pieces come together in the coming months.
