Roberto Martinez has been linked with the Al Nassr job – in a move which would see the Portuguese manager team up with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al Nassr are on the hunt for a new manager after parting ways with Jorge Jesus, who led the club to its 11th Saudi Pro League title this season.
It was initially thought that the Saudi Government-owned club had their sights set on the appointment of ex-Fulham boss Marco Silva, but he looks set to join Benfica.
Now, according to French radio RMC Sport, Al Nassr have begun talks with 52-year-old Martinez over a deal which would see him take over after the World Cup.
The former Wigan Athletic and Everton boss hasn’t managed a club side in a decade, but announced earlier this week that this summer’s tournament would be his last with the Portuguese national team.
Al Nassr boast a strong Portuguese contingent including Joao Felix and Ronaldo, both of whom earned places in Martinez’s World Cup squad.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has been linked with the head coach’s role at Al Nassr
The move would see the 52-year-old team up once with ex-Man United star Cristiano Ronaldo
But the Portugal manager has often been criticised for refusing to substitute 41-year-old Ronaldo, who has become increasingly ineffective leading the nation’s line.
The ex-Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus icon has failed to score in his last 10 major tournament appearances, with his last goal dating back as far as 2022.
And Ronaldo once again played 90 minutes during his side’s drab 1-1 draw with Cape Verde on Wednesday, despite failing to register a single shot on target.
With 83 minutes on the clock and Portugal in desperate need of a goal, Martinez instead opted to replace PSG midfielder Vitinha for Goncalo Ramos in a move which was branded ’embarrassing’ by Chris Sutton.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5, the former England striker fumed: ‘That is embarrassing for Roberto Martinez. Are we all watching a different game?
‘He is scared to take him off. He is not the manager. He (Ronaldo) might score the winner, but the game passed him by.
‘He is a brilliant player. He was once the playmaker, but now he is the poacher. He is not only the poacher, but he runs the estate.
‘I don’t understand some of his management. Cristiano Ronaldo was on the periphery and Martinez has to be brave enough to be the manager.’
Ronaldo won his first Saudi Pro League title with the Al Nassr this season since joining the club
But the icon has become increasingly ineffective leading the line for Portugal
Martinez responded to such criticism by insisting that it would have made ‘no sense’ to substitute the greatest goalscorer in Portuguese history when the country needed a goal.
But, for many, this is no longer the same Cristiano Ronaldo.
‘We were finding it difficult because they were playing in a back six,’ Martinez argued.
‘And in a situation like that, you can use his qualities. It makes no sense to get a player like Cristiano out of the game where you need goals.
‘The straight line is not the quickest way. The way he attracts defenders and uses space is valuable. When you need goals, you need a player like Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch.’
The draw leaves Portugal third on Group K, after Colombia dispatched Uzbekistan 3-1 in the group’s other match.
Martinez and Ronaldo face Uzbekistan in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday.
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