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Al-Nassr sack manager Luis Castro with Stefano Pioli set to take over

Cristiano Ronaldo has now been through three managers during his time at Al-Nassr with the club announcing on Tuesday that Luis Castro has been dismissed.

A club statement on X read: 'Al Nassr can announce that Head Coach Luis Castro has left the club.

'Everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future.'

The decision comes after the club's poor start to the season continued with another drab display on Monday night.

Without an ill Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr drew with Al-Shorta of Iraq 1-1 in the first ever game in the revamped and rebranded AFC Champions League Elite

Al-Nassr announced on Tuesday afternoon that manager Luis Castro has left the club

Castro's team were beaten to the title by Al-Hilal last season and already find themselves four points adrift of the reigning champions in the Saudi Pro League after just three games.

Fabrizio Romano claims his replacement has already been identified with a 'deal on the verge of being completed for Stefano Pioli to become the new head coach.'

Pioli was in charge of AC Milan for five years before departing the San Siro at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

The Italian guided the Rossoneri to the title in the 2020-21 season and has previously managed the likes of Bologna, Lazio, Inter Milan and Fiorentina. 

Rudi Garcia was manager of Al-Nassr when Ronaldo made his stunning switch in December 2022 with Dinko Jelicic taking over on an interim basis in April 2023 when he was sacked.

Ronaldo was left behind in Riyadh for Monday's game with Al-Nassr saying the Portugal superstar had a viral infection and could not travel to Baghdad.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

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