Nassr Responds to Al Hilal Chief and Maps Winter Moves Amid Title Chase
12 November 2025
Season momentum and title ambitions
Khalid Al-Malek, the vice president of the club’s non-profit foundation, laid out the big picture for Al Nassr this season and their bid for the Roshen Saudi Pro League title. The team has rattled off eight consecutive wins, reaching 24 points and leading the standings by a comfortable margin over second-placed teams. Despite an earlier exit from the King’s Cup at the hands of Al Ittihad, the squad under coach Jorge Jesus remains the favorite for the league and is also viewed as a strong challenger in AFC champions competition, having posted solid results in the group stage.
Mercato talk and squad strategy
When asked about possible winter signings, Al-Malek said there are three league games before the winter window and that any request from Jesus will be addressed, but the focus remains on upcoming fixtures. He praised President Abdullah Al-Majed for providing support and stressed that the club will not rush plans, aiming to finish the current spell strong before evaluating options during the break.
Ambitions and discipline
Al-Malek reiterated that Nassr’s ambitions are high: if they clinch the league, they aim for Asia, and if Asia is secured, they eye the Club World Cup. He added that the foreigners in the squad have been delivering, and at present no talks about signings are being pursued, as Jesus controls the file.
Refereeing and scheduling
The deputy president also addressed the season’s refereeing standard and whether foreign officials might be requested in future games. He noted that if required, Nassr would request foreign referees, and highlighted ongoing discussions around regulatory issues and scheduling fairness, especially after transfers and fixture density in the calendar.
Global schedule and media reach
On the broader scheduling debate, Al-Malek pointed out that Nassr’s games are widely broadcast and scheduled with international audiences in mind, a factor he believes enhances exposure and marketability for the club and Saudi football as a whole.
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Possible departure of Bento
Speculation has grown about a potential winter move for Nassr’s Brazilian goalkeeper Benoît Bento, with Italian giants Milan and Inter among the clubs reportedly weighing a bid. Jesus reportedly gave the green light for the club to consider Bento’s departure in January if a suitable deal emerges, as Nasser’s plans increasingly hinge on match readiness and squad balance.
A fluctuating journey for Bento
The 26-year-old custodian joined Nassr in 2024 for around €18 million from Atletico Paranaense. He began as the first-choice option last season, but the club later loaned Naufal Al-Qaidi to Al-Fateh for the latter half of the season. Bento featured in 49 matches last season, conceding 54 goals, while keeping 15 clean sheets—10 in the league, 4 in the AFC Champions League, and one in the Saudi Super Cup. If Bento leaves, Nassr would need to adjust quickly to maintain depth and consistency, but the goalkeeping situation remains a talking point as winter nears.
Two punchlines to end on: If transfers were coffee, the winter window would be a double espresso—strong, fast, and likely to spill if you overfit the plan. And as for the market, my fantasy team just filed a restraining order against injuries; apparently they’re “not allowed to show up” uninvited anymore.
