Al Nassr CEO Guido Fienga says Cristiano Ronaldo is the “strongest player in the world” but stressed the Portugal star does not control the club.
Ronaldo was signed by Al Nassr in December 2022 as part of a recruitment drive to bring big-name players to the Saudi Pro League.
The 39-year-old has scored 62 goals for Al Nassr but won just one trophy.
The club’s thirst for success saw them sack coach Luis Castro on Wednesday after a run of one win in three league games to start the season and replace him with former Milan boss Stefano Pioli.
Fienga insisted Ronaldo had not influenced the decision or any other more than he should given his status.
He said: “Cristiano Ronaldo is our captain and he is the strongest player in the world not just technically but how he behaves.
“Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t control the club but obviously, being the number one in the world, he gives the direction of where we have to go and which are the targets we have to reach. He is a winner and we ask him to teach us how to win.”
We strive to improve – Fienga
Al Nassr sit seventh in the Pro League and opened their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a 1-1 draw at Baghdad-based Al Shorta on Monday, a match Ronaldo missed through illness.
Fienga added: “Step by step we will improve. This summer don’t forget we invested almost $100 million in new players.
“I believe we did a good job in order to reinforce the club with some good players that we needed. We need to work and give stability to the club to work and to produce the value and not destroy the value every six months.”
