In a stunning transfer saga unfolding in the Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo is orchestrating a blockbuster double swoop from Chelsea. Al-Nassr, the Saudi giants, are on the cusp of securing Portugal star Joao Felix in a deal worth up to €50m, and now reports suggest Ronaldo has his sights set on another Chelsea standout to join him in the Middle East.
Joao Felix, the 26-year-old Portuguese forward, is poised to reunite with his international teammate Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. After a permanent move to Chelsea last summer, Felix struggled to cement his place at Stamford Bridge, echoing an earlier loan stint with the Blues in the 2022-23 season that failed to ignite. Now, Chelsea have agreed to let Felix go in a deal starting at €30m, with significant add-ons and a sell-on clause included, allowing the versatile attacker to embark on a new chapter in Saudi Arabia. Felix has been granted permission to travel for a medical, signaling the transfer is in its final stages.
This move will see Felix link up with Ronaldo, who has been a talismanic figure for Al-Nassr since joining in January 2023. The prospect of the two Portuguese stars combining on the pitch has already sent ripples of excitement through the Saudi Pro League.
Hot on the heels of Felix’s imminent arrival, Spanish journalist Jose Felix Diaz has dropped a bombshell: Ronaldo is pushing Al-Nassr to pursue Chelsea’s dynamic left-back, Marc Cucurella. The 27-year-old Spaniard, who joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 for over £60m, has evolved into a cornerstone of the Blues’ squad. Despite a rocky start in west London, Cucurella has flourished under head coach Enzo Maresca, becoming a fan favorite and a regular starter.
Cucurella’s current contract runs until June 2028, and his importance to Chelsea cannot be overstated. Maresca recently hailed the defender’s influence, particularly after Chelsea’s commanding 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final earlier this month. “He will be the soul of the party tonight,” Maresca said of Cucurella. “He is a smart player and one of the main characters in the locker room.”
While Ronaldo’s ambition to bring Cucurella to Al-Nassr is flattering, the transfer seems a long shot. Chelsea’s resurgence under Maresca, highlighted by their Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs this summer, has the Blues on an upward trajectory. Add to that their qualification for next season’s Champions League, and it’s clear Cucurella is settled at a club with big ambitions. The Spaniard’s integral role in Chelsea’s success makes his departure highly improbable, despite Ronaldo’s star power and Al-Nassr’s financial muscle.
Ronaldo’s influence at Al-Nassr extends beyond the pitch, as the 40-year-old legend appears determined to shape the club’s future with high-profile signings. Landing Felix is a statement of intent, and targeting Cucurella underscores Ronaldo’s vision of building a star-studded squad capable of dominating the Saudi Pro League and making waves on the continental stage.
As Felix prepares to don Al-Nassr’s colors, all eyes will be on whether Ronaldo can pull off another coup by luring Cucurella. For now, Chelsea fans can rest easy knowing their “soul of the party” is unlikely to trade Stamford Bridge for the Saudi desert. But with Ronaldo involved, anything is possible in this thrilling transfer window