WHAT HAPPENED?
According to Sportitalia journalist Gianluigi Longari, the 59-year-old Italian manager, who joined the team in September 2024, may be ready to walk away this summer from Al-Nassr as results have not been as expected. Since taking over at Al-Nassr, Pioli has managed 21 wins, six draws, and six losses, showing a decent but not dominant record in the Saudi top flight.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Pioli’s side currently sits third in the league standings, trailing leaders Al-Ittihad by 10 points. With only nine games left in the season, it appears unlikely that Al-Nassr will be able to secure the league title, leaving Ronaldo and his team-mates with another year of waiting for domestic glory.
DID YOU KNOW?
Should Pioli choose to leave Saudi Arabia, one of the clubs reportedly interested in his services are AS Roma. The Serie A side are in search of a new head coach following Claudio Ranieri’s decision to retire at the end of the season. If Pioli does make the switch to Roma, it would mark a return to the Stadio Olimpico, albeit with a different club. The Italian previously managed Lazio from 2014 to 2016, guiding them to a top-three finish in Serie A and a place in the Champions League playoffs.
WHAT NEXT?
Despite their league struggles, Pioli’s team remains alive in the AFC Champions League, keeping hopes alive for continental success. Winning the Asian title could potentially change the course of Pioli’s future, but at the moment, speculation over his departure continues to grow. They will return to action on April 4 against Al-Hilal in a domestic fixture.