Cristiano Ronaldo has new manager at Al Nassr

Rudi García, the 59-year-old Frenchman, has left his post as coach of Al Nassr after less than a year in charge. García assumed the position on July 1, 2022, but his departure from the club was officially announced on April 13. During his tenure, García managed 26 games with a record of 18 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses. Not entirely awful, but given the investment... As the team prepares for the return of goalkeeper David Ospina, who is nearing the end of his recovery, they will do so under the leadership of a new coach, with Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo likely having an influence on proceedings. It is rumoured that a former coach of his is interested in the position.

Who next to coach Ronaldo’s Al Nassr?

The sudden departure of García from Al Nassr has taken many by surprise. It is believed that a strained relationship with Ronaldo, the team’s headline-making signing, was the root cause of the coach’s resignation. Sources in the Arab territory have indicated that there were communication issues between the Frenchman and the forward brought in from Man Utd, which led to García’s decision to step down.

In an official statement, the Al Nassr management confirmed that they had terminated their contract with García. The team expressed their gratitude for his efforts and wished him success in his future endeavors. The club also announced the appointment of Croatian Dinko Jelicic as the new interim manager. Jelicic, who had been working with the club’s youth divisions, will now take charge of the first team.

Given the departure of García, the intention of the club is to bring in a more senior coach and that is why there has been talk of an offer of around $100 million for two seasons for José Mourinho, who currently manages Roma in Italy. Mou and Cristiano know each other well from their days together at Real Madrid.

When will David Ospina play again?

Al Nassr goalkeeper David Ospina is back in training under the guidance of the team’s goalkeeping coach. Ospina suffered an injury on January 14, which was initially expected to require a six-week recovery period. However, his rehabilitation took longer than anticipated, and he ultimately had to undergo surgery, which extended his absence from the pitch.

The rehabilitation process began in mid-February, and Ospina’s progress has been gradual but steady. He has started to engage in more specific training, although he has yet to receive medical clearance to return to the pitch. If he does receive clearance in time, Ospina may have the opportunity to feature in the final stages of the season and contribute to Al Nassr’s efforts to win the league title, a goal they are still contesting with Al Ittihad.