When a Coach Pulls the Trigger: Al-Nassr’s Star Might Hit the Departure Door

Transfer Outlook

The Portuguese Jorge Jesus, head coach of Al-Nassr, has given the green light for the departure of one of the team’s players in the near term, amid a recent offer the player received.

This concerns the Brazilian winger Wesley Gasova, the young talent signed by Al-Nassr last season.

Although he appeared in several matches for the club last season and this season, ESPN Brasil reports that Jesus would not object to letting the youngster leave.

The report notes that selling the remaining terms in Wesley’s contract would give the Brazilian coach a chance to bring in a foreign replacement.

Sporting Lisbon is said to be interested in signing Wesley in the coming period, as the Portuguese newspaper A Bola had hinted earlier.

A Bola notes that Lisbon is weighing signing the Brazilian youngster in the upcoming winter transfer window to strengthen its squad, while Al-Nassr is said to be asking for 15 million euros.

Al-Nassr signed the winger from Corinthians in the summer of 2024 in a deal worth 22.6 million euros at that time.

On-Field Impact

Despite big expectations that he would add real value to Al-Nassr given his ability to operate on both wings and as an attacking midfielder, his numbers have not been particularly influential.

In 31 appearances across all competitions, Gasova has tallied 3 goals and provided 4 assists.

But the hope remains that a veteran manager like Jesus can unlock the player’s true potential and deploy him effectively, especially with the team’s varied attacking tools this season including João Felix and Kingsley Coman, while the Brazilian has played sparingly.

Gasova is regarded as one of the brightest young faces in Al-Nassr’s project, balancing technical flair with tactical versatility to play in multiple attacking roles, with strong dribbling and movement that make him a preferred option for build-up either as a winger or as a secondary striker. He possesses clear speed to shift from defense to offense and can exploit spaces, giving Al-Nassr a crucial ingredient in counter-attacks and direct play.

He also has skill in controlling the ball under pressure and rapid exchanges with creators, helping the team breach defensive lines. Physically he has shown notable development for a young player, but he still needs to gain more strength and experience handling high-press periods in big matches.

While his finishing touch is improving, consistency in scoring remains an area for growth. Overall, Gasova adds technical value and his project with the club seems long-term; he has the tools to become one of the top attacking assets if he keeps progressing.

Referee Controversy

As Al-Nassr prepared to resume league duties with a tough clash against Al-Khaleej, the Saudi referees’ committee and the arbitration department admitted that a penalty awarded to Al-Nassr against Neom was not correct, sparking debate.

Al-Nassr defeated Neom 3-1 in the clash that took place on November 8, in the eighth round of the Roshen Saudi League.

The penalty awarded by referee Abdullah Al-Shahri to the team’s striker Cristiano Ronaldo for the second goal in the 65th minute prompted wide debate, a decision the committee and the arbitration department did not agree with.

Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiya reported that the committee and the arbitration department confirmed the inaccuracy of that penalty against Neom.

Even though Al-Nassr also benefited from a penalty against Al-Fayha, awarded by referee Mohammed Al-Huwaish, which caused significant chatter, the refereeing body did not address it during the referees’ meeting.

According to the source, the committee reviewed various refereeing incidents from prior matches during the gathering to clarify notable decisions and provide broader explanations.

The source added that no case studies from that Neom match were presented at the gathering, with the committee and arbitration department upholding most Saudi referees’ decisions except for the Al-Shahri call.

Punchline 1: If transfers were as precise as a sniper, this deal would be tagged with perfect aiming and a dramatic flourish.

Punchline 2: And if Wesley keeps developing, he might need a bigger bench to keep up with all the headlines—either that or a larger trophy cabinet for all these rumors.