Sérgio Conceição has emerged as the top candidate to coach Al Nassr after Luciano Spalletti turned down a €18 million-a-year offer.
Sérgio Conceição has emerged as the frontrunner to become the new head coach of Al Nassr, according to a report from the Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Portuguese manager is now seen as the top candidate to take over the Saudi Arabian club after Luciano Spalletti, the current Italy national team coach, declined a lucrative offer to take the job.
According to Gazzetta, Spalletti was offered a staggering €18 million per year to lead Al Nassr, one of the biggest clubs in the Saudi Pro League and the current home of Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite the financial appeal, the Italian tactician turned down the approach, reportedly preferring to remain focused on his project with the Italian national team, which includes preparation for the upcoming UEFA European Championship and a longer-term rebuild of the Azzurri.
With Spalletti out of the picture, Al Nassr quickly turned their attention to Conceição, who is currently a free agent after parting ways with FC Porto at the end of the 2023–24 season. Conceição had been heavily linked with AC Milan earlier in the summer and was reported to have been in negotiations with the Rossoneri. However, that deal never materialized, leaving the 49-year-old without a club heading into the new season.
Conceição is best known for his long and successful spell with FC Porto, where he won multiple domestic titles and consistently guided the team into the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. Known for his passionate leadership, tactical discipline, and intense training demands, Conceição has built a reputation as a manager who instills both competitiveness and unity in his squads. His fiery personality on the touchline and ability to maximize the potential of his players have made him one of the most respected Portuguese coaches of his generation.
Al Nassr are said to be impressed by his track record and see him as a coach capable of elevating the club’s performance both domestically and on the continental stage. The club is desperate to challenge the dominance of Al Hilal, who won the league title last season, and to make a stronger impact in the AFC Champions League. After heavy investment in recent years, including high-profile signings such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Marcelo Brozović, and Aymeric Laporte, expectations at the club have never been higher. They want a coach with European pedigree and strong leadership and Conceição fits that profile.
Al Nassr’s coaching position has seen instability in recent years. After the departure of Luís Castro, who led the team through part of the 2023 season, the club turned to Stefano Pioli, the former AC Milan manager, to take the reins. However, Pioli’s spell proved underwhelming, and the team finished the season without major silverware. Despite a star-studded squad, Al Nassr often struggled with consistency, both in domestic matches and in continental competitions.
Now, with a new season approaching, the club is reportedly eager to appoint a manager who can bring both structure and ambition. Conceição, who speaks multiple languages and has coached in Portugal, France, and briefly in Italy during his playing days, would bring not only experience but also the ability to manage high-profile players like Ronaldo with whom he shares a Portuguese connection and mutual respect.
It remains to be seen whether negotiations will progress quickly, but reports suggest that Al Nassr are prepared to offer a significant financial package to secure his services. Conceição, who has previously expressed a desire to manage abroad and test himself in new environments, could be tempted by both the challenge and the financial terms.
If the deal is finalized, Sérgio Conceição would become the latest European coach to join the Saudi Pro League, which has increasingly attracted global attention by signing not only top-tier players but also established managers. His appointment would be viewed as a clear signal that Al Nassr are doubling down on their ambitions to dominate Saudi and Asian football, and perhaps even prepare for a future FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
