Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the pitch is drawing near, and with his future secured at Al Nassr, fans are gearing up for what could be a thrilling 2025–26 season. With sights set on capturing his first official trophy in the Middle East, Ronaldo has reportedly received a major squad boost with a $38 million signing from the UEFA Champions League.
One of Al Nassr’s key weaknesses last season was its backline, which was frequently criticized for costly defensive lapses. With Aymeric Laporte missing the latter part of the season and his future uncertain, the club has moved to address those issues in a big way.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Al Nassr have completed the signing of Slovakian defender David Hancko from Feyenoord. The former Champions League standout arrives on a €33 million ($38M) deal plus add-ons, becoming the Saudi club’s first marquee signing of the summer transfer window.
Hancko had reportedly agreed to join Al Nassr earlier, but the deal was delayed while the club finalized the appointment of new manager Jorge Jesus. With Jesus now officially in place, Hancko is expected to play a key role in shoring up the defense.
A proven leader, Hancko wore the captain’s armband during Feyenoord’s UEFA Champions League campaign, where they knocked out Christian Pulisic’s AC Milan in the playoff round before falling to Inter Milan in the Round of 16. He also helped Feyenoord lift the 2025 Dutch Super Cup. Now, he arrives in Riyadh under contract through June 2028.
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Ronaldo’s imminent return to Al Nassr
After helping Portugal win the 2025 UEFA Nations League, Ronaldo opted to extend his contract with Al Nassr and skip the FIFA Club World Cup despite receiving multiple offers. Instead, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner took time off to recharge ahead of preseason.
With Jorge Jesus already leading his first training sessions, Ronaldo’s absence raised eyebrows. However, as reported by The Al Nassr Zone on X, the club has confirmed that both Ronaldo and Mohamed Simakan will join the team’s training camp in Austria on July 20, following approval from the coaching staff. The countdown to Ronaldo’s return is officially underway.
