Gerry Cardinale has revealed that his American investment management firm, RedBird Capital Partners, is exploring the possibility of acquiring Al Nassr. The Saudi Pro League club, currently owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, is captained by Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. When addressing reports regarding a potential takeover, Cardinale told Gazzetta dello Sport that discussions have taken place to assess the opportunity and he was contacted to investigate further, though he emphasized that the process remains at a preliminary stage. He noted his extensive work experience in the Middle East as a relevant factor.
Reports suggest that under a takeover plan led by RedBird Capital Partners, Ronaldo could become a part-owner of the club he has represented since 2023. The 41-year-old forward's current contract with Al Nassr is set to expire in June 2027. Cardinale expressed interest in meeting Ronaldo to understand his post-retirement ambitions and potential future involvement with the Saudi club. He also stated his intention to continue evaluating the possibilities of managing multiple clubs, despite already holding stakes in Toulouse FC and AC Milan.
RedBird Capital Partners previously acquired an 85% majority stake in the French club Toulouse FC in 2020 and completed its acquisition of Italian giants AC Milan two years later. Meanwhile, Ronaldo moved closer to his career milestone of 1,000 goals by scoring a hat trick against Al Kholood in a 5-3 victory on Thursday. He is now just 15 goals away from reaching the historic figure. Boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who attended the match, described the Portuguese star as "an alien." Following the win, Ronaldo took to social media to praise his team's performance and celebrate his contribution with three goals.
Sources: ESPN Soccer.