RedBird Capital Al Nassr takeover talks are at an early stage after Gerry Cardinale, the American owner of AC Milan, confirmed that his investment firm is exploring the possibility of acquiring Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Arabian club.
Cardinale, founder of RedBird Capital Partners, disclosed that discussions had taken place to assess the opportunity involving Al Nassr, where Portugal captain Ronaldo has played since 2023.
The club is currently owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has invested heavily in the country’s football industry as part of its broader sporting ambitions.
Speaking to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Cardinale acknowledged the discussions but cautioned that no deal was imminent.
“There have been discussions to assess the Al Nassr opportunity and I was contacted to look into it, but we are at a preliminary stage. I work a lot in the Middle East.”
His comments confirm interest in the Saudi club but do not amount to an announcement of a takeover agreement.
Ronaldo could become a shareholder under takeover plan
Reports surrounding the proposed acquisition suggest Ronaldo could secure a part-ownership stake in Al Nassr if a takeover led by RedBird Capital Partners proceeds.
The 41-year-old forward has been a central figure at the Saudi club since joining in 2023, helping raise its international profile and attracting further attention to the Saudi Pro League.
However, the reported possibility of Ronaldo becoming a shareholder remains speculative. Cardinale has not confirmed the terms of any potential transaction or whether the Portuguese superstar would receive an ownership stake.
Ronaldo’s current contract with Al Nassr runs until June 2027, meaning questions about his long-term future could become increasingly important as he approaches the final stages of his playing career.
Cardinale said he was interested in meeting Ronaldo to discuss his plans beyond football and the possibility of remaining involved with the Saudi club.
“I’d like to meet Ronaldo because I’m curious to find out what he might want to do when he retires and what his future involvement with the Saudi club might be.”
The comments indicate that any discussions could extend beyond the club’s ownership structure to Ronaldo’s potential role after retirement.
Cardinale considers expanding his football portfolio
The possible Al Nassr acquisition would represent another significant step in RedBird Capital Partners’ strategy of investing in professional football clubs.
The investment firm already has interests in two European teams: Italian giants AC Milan and French side Toulouse FC.
RedBird acquired an 85% majority stake in Toulouse in 2020 before completing its purchase of AC Milan in 2022.
Cardinale said he remained interested in the possibility of managing multiple clubs, although any expansion would require further assessment.
“I’ll continue to assess the possibilities of managing multiple clubs, although I already have Toulouse and AC Milan.”
A potential investment in Al Nassr would add a Saudi Arabian club to RedBird’s existing European portfolio, expanding its presence across different football markets.
However, the discussions remain preliminary, and there has been no confirmation that RedBird has submitted a formal offer or reached an agreement with the Saudi club’s owners.
Ronaldo moves closer to 1,000 career goals
The takeover discussions emerged as Ronaldo continued his pursuit of one of football’s most significant individual milestones: 1,000 career goals.
The Portuguese forward scored a hat-trick for Al Nassr in a 5-3 Saudi Pro League victory over Al Kholood on Thursday, moving closer to the landmark.
According to the report, Ronaldo had scored 985 career goals following the performance, leaving him 15 short of reaching 1,000.
His latest achievement further underlined his continued influence at 41, as he remains productive for Al Nassr while questions about his eventual retirement and future involvement in football begin to attract attention.
Boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who attended the match, reportedly described Ronaldo as “an alien”.
Ronaldo also celebrated the result on social media, writing: “Great win, great team performance,” before adding: “Happy to help with a hat trick!”
What a potential Al Nassr acquisition could mean
A RedBird takeover could reshape the ownership structure of Al Nassr and potentially create new opportunities for Ronaldo to remain involved with the club beyond his playing career.
The reported possibility of a part-ownership arrangement would also place the forward in a different position within the organisation, should such a proposal become part of an eventual agreement.
Nevertheless, several questions remain unanswered, including the valuation of Al Nassr, the structure of any proposed deal and the role Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund might play in negotiations.
Cardinale’s comments establish that RedBird has examined the opportunity, but they do not confirm that the firm will proceed with an acquisition.
For now, the proposed RedBird Capital Al Nassr takeover remains at an exploratory stage, while Ronaldo continues to concentrate on his performances and his pursuit of 1,000 career goals.
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