Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has reportedly put Cristiano Ronaldo’s club, Al-Nassr, and three other giants of the Saudi Pro League up for sale, in a surprising move to scale back its heavy football spending.
The four clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, and Al-Hilal — were brought under PIF ownership in 2023, with the fund holding a 75 percent stake while the remaining 25 percent was controlled by the Ministry of Sport.
That acquisition triggered an unprecedented spending spree, attracting global superstars such as Ronaldo, Neymar, and Karim Benzema to the Middle East in deals that shook the football world.
However, Saudi journalist Ahmed Al-Ajlan has now revealed that the PIF is preparing to offload its stakes in the four clubs entirely, including the Ministry of Sport’s 25 percent shares, opening the door for private investors to take over.
The move signals a major shift in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious football project, which had positioned the kingdom as one of the fastest-growing hubs for global talent.
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