SouthernWorldwide.com – Al-Nassr made an ambitious move for Pep Guardiola before the manager’s recent confirmation that he will depart Manchester City at the season’s conclusion.
This pursuit by the Saudi Pro League champions opens the door to a potentially historic tactical collaboration with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Guardiola sent shockwaves through the football world by officially announcing his summer departure from City, marking the end of a decade of transformative, trophy-laden achievements.
Seizing this significant administrative change, the newly crowned Saudi champions, Al-Nassr, launched an ambitious campaign to attract the renowned tactician to Riyadh.
Speculation has intensified as coach Jorge Jesus stepped down after leading the club to victories in the Saudi Premier League and AFC Champions League Two.
Reports surfaced suggesting the club offered a colossal, world-record salary package to bring the manager together with Ronaldo. This prompted Guardiola’s long-time representative, Josep Maria Orobitg, to publicly clarify the true nature of these discussions.
Addressing widespread rumors that Al-Nassr had tempted the Catalan coach with a multi-million pound offer, reportedly close to €130 million per season, Orobitg was quick to dismiss the astronomical figures.
Speaking to the Saudi publication Okaz, he stated: “There was contact a month and a half ago, just contact, without any commitment or written offer. It’s not that much money.”
The interest from Al-Nassr is not the sole inquiry arriving from the Gulf region, as footballing authorities aim to capitalize on the manager’s unexpected availability.
Orobitg revealed secondary discussions with the national football federation, while maintaining a realistic outlook on a definitive agreement.
“There was also contact with the Saudi Arabian Federation about 15 days ago, but there will be no further contact for the time being,” Orobitg added. “At the moment, none of them have much of a chance of signing Guardiola.”
Guardiola will manage City for the final time this Sunday when his team hosts Aston Villa in an emotional season finale.
Following the post-match ceremonies, his attention will shift to his upcoming responsibilities as a Global Ambassador for the City Football Group.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This tournament will be hosted across three countries, with the final match held on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70 games) and FS1 (34 games). Every game will also be available for live streaming and on-demand viewing through the FOX One and FOX Sports apps.
A record 40 matches, representing more than a third of the total games, are slated to air in prime time across FOX (21 games) and FS1 (19 games).
The opening match on June 11, featuring Mexico against South Africa, is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET and will be streamed for free on Tubi.
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Additionally, the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12, scheduled for 9 p.m. ET, will also be available for free streaming on Tubi.
