Saudi Pro League Targets Salah, Fernandes as Possible Replacements for Ronaldo
The Saudi Pro League has identified Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah as potential ambassadors for the league amid discussions over Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible departure from Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo, now 41, has been the most high-profile player in the Saudi league since arriving in December 2022 on a free transfer after more than two decades in European football with four different clubs.
In 2025, the Portuguese star signed a lucrative new contract with Al-Nassr that runs until next summer.
However, uncertainty over his future has grown following his remarks criticising the club owners, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), for not providing enough support during the recent transfer window compared with rival clubs.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also has a £43 million clause in his contract that becomes active at the end of the season, potentially allowing him to leave.
A source within the Saudi Pro League told The i Paper, as reported by Sport Bible, that Salah and Fernandes would be strong options to boost the league’s profile.
“Salah and Fernandes would be ideal choices, especially Salah, because he would draw in an Arab audience as a Muslim,” the source said.
“Either of those newcomers, plus that young talent, would be really big for us.”
Ronaldo’s absence from recent matches has further fuelled speculation about his future, as he did not feature in Al-Nassr’s 1–0 league win over Al-Riyadh on Monday and also missed the 2–0 home victory against Al-Ittihad on Friday.
Salah has been a key figure for Liverpool since joining in the summer of 2017 and has scored more than 250 goals in all competitions.
Fernandes, who has been at Manchester United since January 2020 and currently serves as captain, has scored over 100 goals for the Old Trafford club.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
