FIFA bans Al-Nassr from registering new players over Ahmed Musa deal

FIFA bans Al-Nassr from registering new players over Ahmed Musa deal

Saudi Arabia club, Al-Nassr have been hit with a FIFA ban preventing them from registering new players. The Saudi Arabian team, which has won the Kingdom’s league title nine times, made headlines when they signed the former Manchester United forward, Cristiano Ronaldo last season. Ronaldo’s high-profile move to the Gulf state has attracted other stars to the region.

FIFA bans Al-Nassr from registering new players over Ahmed Musa deal

Cristiano Ronaldo at a match for Al-Nassr. Source: Getty Al-Nassr have continued their spending spree this summer by acquiring Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan. There have also been rumours linking Italy international Domenico Berardi and Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech to the club. It has however come at a cost, as they’ve now been banned from registering new players by FIFA. The Sun reported that the ban stems from the club’s failure to pay Championship side Leicester City add-ons related to the transfer of Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa. Musa joined Leicester immediately after their historic title win in 2016 but struggled to make an impact in England, scoring only five goals in 33 appearances. He was subsequently loaned back to his former club CSKA Moscow before being sold to Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £14 million in 2018.

FIFA bans Al-Nassr from registering new players over Ahmed Musa deal

Ahmed Musa at a match for Super Eagles. Source: Getty During his time at Al-Nassr Musa played 60 games and won the league title but was released as a free agent two years later. FIFA’s ruling states that Al-Nassr failed to pay €460,000 (£390,000) plus interest in performance-related add-ons owed to Leicester City. The initial ruling was issued in October 2021, with Al-Nassr being warned that a transfer registration ban would be imposed if they failed to settle the outstanding amount. It appears the club has not complied with the ruling, resulting in the registration ban being enforced. This ban applies to both domestic and international transfers, meaning Al-Nassr cannot register players from abroad at the moment. FIFA’s original ruling stated the ban would cover three consecutive transfer windows. Al-Nassr have also been warned that the matter would be referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee if Leicester City remained unpaid by the end of the ban. Al-Nassr has since indicated that the issue arose before the club’s acquisition by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). They have reassured that such issues will not occur again under the new club structure, and the payment owed to Leicester for Musa’s transfer will be promptly settled to lift the ban.

Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-Nassr

Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo will play under fellow Portuguese compatriot Luis Castro next season, following the confirmation of his appointment by Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr. Al Nassr confirmed the appointment of 61-year-old Luis Castro as their new head coach on Thursday afternoon.

Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-Nassr

Luis Castro gives instructions from the sidelines during a Europa League match. Source: AP Castro left his role at Brazilian Serie A side, Botafogo, which he has been at since March 2022 to join the Saudi Pro League club. On June 30, it was revealed he’d officially departed after accepting an offer from a ‘foreign club’, which has now been confirmed as Al Nassr. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs, revealed that Ronaldo who joined Al-Nassr in January following his dramatic departure from Manchester United, was heavily involved in Castro’s appointment. Castro is the latest coaching hire this week in the cash-rich Saudi Pro League, following Jorge Jesus’ appointment at Al-Hilal and Steven Gerrard’s at Al-Ettifaq. Al Nassr have been without a permanent manager since April, when the club parted ways with coach Rudi Garcia, with Dinko Jelicic coming in as caretaker. Luis Castro confirmed as new coach of Al-NassrCristiano Ronaldo in Al-Nassr jersey. Source: Getty Castro is a former professional footballer, playing for Vitória de Guimarães and Elvas in the Primeira Liga during his career. However, he spent most of his time down in the lower leagues before later becoming a manager in 1998. 61-year-old Luis Castro who will be leading Al-Nassr next season, is best known for his two seasons in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk including home and away wins over Real Madrid in the group stage of the 2020-21 Champions League. He will lead Al-Nassr into a qualifying playoff for the Asian Champions League next month after the team finished runner-up last season in the Saudi Pro League. The champion Al-Ittihad was coached by another Portuguese, Nuno Espírito Santo. Al-Nassr is among four top Saudi clubs effectively nationalized last month by being taken into majority ownership by the sovereign wealth Public Investment Fund. PIF claims to have assets of around $700 billion and is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  

Cameroon’s World Cup star Vincent Aboubakar released as Cristiano Ronaldo is registered as Al-Nassr player

Cameroon's World Cup star Vincent Aboubakar released as Cristiano Ronaldo is registered as Al-Nassr player

Vincent Aboubakar, the striker who played a large role in the victories Cameroon recorded at the 2022 World Cup has been released by Al-Nassr following the registration of Portuguese football star, Cristiano Ronaldo as a player of the Saudi club.

Cameroon's World Cup star Vincent Aboubakar released as Cristiano Ronaldo is registered as Al-Nassr player

Saudi outlet Al-Riyadh reported that Aboubakar is now available on a free transfer amid links to Manchester United.
Following the registration, Ronaldo who still has one game remaining of the ban issued by the English FA in November for smashing an Everton fan’s phone, will now likely make his debut in Al-Nassr’s Pro League match against Al-Ettifaq on January 21, fitness and team selection depending.
Cameroon's World Cup star Vincent Aboubakar released as Cristiano Ronaldo is registered as Al-Nassr player
Aboubakar who is looking for a new club following his release after recording 13 goals and six assists during his time at the Saudi club, has most recently been linked with a loan move to Manchester United which terminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract before the 2022 World Cup commenced.

Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at those criticizing his big-money move to Saudi Arabian side, Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at those criticizing his big-money move to Saudi Arabian side, Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at those criticizing his move to Saudi Arabian side, Al-Nassr

Portuguese football star, Cristiano Ronaldo has taken a swipe at critics of his lucrative move to Saudi Arabian side, Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at those criticizing his move to Saudi Arabian side, Al-Nassr
Ronaldo, who has a deal with the Saudi club which will make him the highest-paid player in the history of the sport, said those criticizing him know nothing about football.
He said;
“Many people speak and give their opinions but they really do not know nothing about football. As you know football now, probably the last 10-15 years it is different, all the teams are more prepared, more ready. So for me it’s not the end of my career to come to [Saudi Arabia], that’s what I want to change. So I really don’t worry about what the people say.”
Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at those criticizing his move to Saudi Arabian side, Al-Nassr
Also addressing reporters at his unveiling ceremony yesterday, January 3, Ronaldo stated that he received plenty of other offers from clubs around the world before deciding that Al-Nassr was the best place for him to continue his career.

Cristiano Ronaldo explains why he signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo explains why he signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr

Portuguese football star, Cristiano Ronaldo has explained why he turned back on Europe and made a complete switch to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo is set to earn an eye-watering £173million per year in the Middle East country, an unprecedented footballing payday which also signals the conclusion of his top-level career.
Cristiano Ronaldo explains why he signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner who is now the most high-profile player ever to grace Asian football, said he’s fortunate to have won everything he set out to win in European football and now feels this is the right moment to share his experience in Asia.
Speaking after signing for the club, Ronaldo said;
“I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country. The vision of what Al Nassr are doing and developing in Saudi Arabia both in terms of men’s and women’s football is very inspiring. We can see from Saudi Arabia’s recent performance at the World Cup that this is a country with big football ambitions and a lot of potential.

Al-Nassr confirm signing of Cristiano Ronaldo

“I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia. I am looking forward to joining my new teammates and together with them, help the club to achieve success.”
Ronaldo leaves behind arguably the greatest European career of all time, forged over 21 glittering years. On top of winning five Champions League crowns, seven league titles; namely those of England, Italy, and Spain and 20 other trophies at club level, the Portugal captain fired his nation to a historic win at Euro 2016, the first of two honours at international level.

Al-Nassr confirm signing of Cristiano Ronaldo

Al-Nassr confirm signing of Cristiano Ronaldo

Al-Nassr confirm signing of Cristiano Ronaldo

Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr has announced the signing of Portuguese football star, Cristiano Ronaldo following his early exit from Manchester United.
This ends weeks of speculation about Ronaldo’s future as a free agent. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner signed a lucrative two-and-half-year deal with the Saudi Arabian outfit and is expected to earn around £173 million per year in the Middle East.
Al-Nassr confirm signing of Cristiano Ronaldo
Confirming that the Portuguese football star is now signed to the club, Al-Nassr tweeted;
“History in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves. Welcome Cristiano to your new home.”

History in the making. This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves. Welcome @Cristiano to your new home @AlNassrFC pic.twitter.com/oan7nu8NWC
— AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) December 30, 2022

Al Nassr Chairman Musalli Al-Muammar added;
“This deal is more than just writing a new historical chapter. This player is a higher example for all athletes and youth in the world, and with his presence in Al-Nassr, we will move forward to achieve more success for the club, Saudi sports, and future generations.”

Al-Nassr confirm signing of Cristiano Ronaldo

Al-Nassr currently sit at the top of the Saudi Pro League, having won seven of their opening 10 matches. They’ve conceded just six goals, with Cameroon star Vincent Aboubakar leading the line.