Roberto Martinez in Talks with Al-Nassr Amid World Cup Uncertainty

Roberto Martinez is weighing up a major change of direction.

According to French outlet RMC Sport, the Portugal head coach is in talks to take over at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, a move that would reunite him with one of the game’s defining figures, Cristiano Ronaldo.

World Cup on, future in play

Martinez is currently in the thick of a World Cup campaign with Portugal, but his position is far from settled. His contract runs only until the end of the tournament, and Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their opening match has done little to ease the sense of uncertainty around what comes next.

The draw leaves Portugal sitting third in Group K. Colombia’s victory over Uzbekistan later in the day pushed the South Americans to the top of the table, tightening the pressure on Martinez’s side after just one game.

Ronaldo, now 40, still commands centre stage. He started against DR Congo and completed the full 90 minutes, a reminder of both his enduring status and Portugal’s continued reliance on him in the biggest moments.

Talks already under way

Behind the scenes, the picture is moving quickly. RMC Sport reports that Martinez has already opened discussions with Al-Nassr, and that those talks began even before the World Cup kicked off.

Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s club since his high-profile switch to Saudi Arabia, would offer Martinez a very different challenge from international management. The prospect of building around Ronaldo again, this time in Riyadh rather than on the global stage, adds a compelling twist to the story.

For now, Martinez remains on Portugal’s bench, chasing points and trying to drag his team up from third place in a tight group. But with his deal ticking down and Al-Nassr circling, the question is no longer whether his next step is coming.

It’s where he chooses to take it.