Gerry Cardinale, the chief executive of RedBird Capital Partners, has confirmed that the investment group is considering a bid for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, which is currently chaired by Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Cardinale said that preliminary discussions are underway and that he has been asked to investigate the opportunity, noting that he frequently works in the Middle East. The club is owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, and reports suggest that Ronaldo, who joined the team in 2023, could become a minority owner if the takeover proceeds.
Cardinale also expressed interest in meeting Ronaldo to discuss the former striker’s future plans after his contract with Al Nassr expires in June 2027. He said he is curious about what Ronaldo might want to do once he retires and how he could remain involved with the Saudi club. Cardinale added that he will keep evaluating the possibility of running multiple clubs, although he already owns Toulouse FC in France and AC Milan in Italy. RedBird Capital Partners acquired an 85 % stake in Toulouse in 2020 and completed the purchase of AC Milan two years later.
The potential Al Nassr takeover comes at a time when Ronaldo is pushing closer to the 1,000‑goal milestone. He scored a hat‑trick in a 5‑3 Saudi Pro League win over Al Kholood, leaving him 15 goals shy of the landmark. Ronaldo celebrated the victory on social media, praising the team’s performance and expressing happiness about the hat‑trick. Meanwhile, the club’s ownership structure could change if RedBird’s bid materialises, potentially adding another high‑profile figure to the group’s growing portfolio of football assets.