Al Nassr boss makes shocking Cristiano confession

Eyebrows raised, bottom lip bent like a breaking wave, trapezius muscles hoisting up his shoulders and palms skyward, Jorge Jesus finally said the quiet part out loud.

In a recent press conference, the Portuguese manager admitted that the only reason he joined Al-Nassr was to bring titles... to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jesus left Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal to join their league-chasing rivals Al-Nassr in a move that stunned Saudi football. While one may make the assumption that he did so for a better wage or sporting merit, Jesus himself put those ideas in the bin and instead focussed solely on the star of the entire modern Nassr project: Cristiano.

“When I received the invitation from [Al Nassr CEO José] Semedo and Cris [Cristiano Ronaldo], I only accepted this challenge to help Cris win titles in Saudi Arabia,” Jorge Jesus confessed ahead of his side’s game on Thursday, adding “that was my purpose.”

“I helped the great rival for two years create a super team”

“Every title is different and we really want it, for the nation of Al Nassr, and for Cris as well, it’s fundamental,” he added. “Especially for what he has done not only for Saudi Arabian football but also for Nassr.”

He also admitted that his work at Hilal made the task even tougher, as he had created “a super team” in blue before switching allegiances. “Al Nassr has been the most challenging project. I realise it was the most difficult project of my sporting career. Why? Because I knew the other opponents and I helped the great rival [Al Hilal] for two years create a super team.”

“From day one, our main objective has been to be champions of Saudi Arabia,” Jorge Jesus said. “If we had to choose, it would always be to be champions of Saudi Arabia. That is our main goal, that’s why we came here.”

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.