FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Asian Champions League - Group B - Esteghlal FC v Al Nassr - Al Rashid Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 22, 2024 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo
(Reuters) - Al-Nassr's new coach Stefano Pioli has praised Cristiano Ronaldo's still youthful passion and said working with him was a major factor in accepting the Saudi Pro League team's offer.
The former A.C. Milan coach replaced Luis Castro last month and began with seven wins, before losing to Al-Taawoun in the Saudi Cup where the usually prolific 39-year-old Ronaldo missed a penalty in additional time.
"Of course, I have always thought that Cristiano is a great champion", Pioli told the Saudi Pro League's media service on Wednesday. "But above all, a great professional with a great work ethic, a great culture of always trying to express oneself to the maximum.
"And therefore, I am discovering a boy who is no longer young, but with the same enthusiasm, with the same passion.
"As when he was a kid, he wanted to do things in wanting to always try to give the best, to reach the maximum, to score many goals and help the team. So, definitely a pleasant surprise".
The 59-year-old Italian said that he was very happy to be approached by Al-Nassr as he wanted a new experience.
"The fact that there is Cristiano in the team was also an important thing and so I accepted very willingly with a lot of enthusiasm, with a great desire to be able to do well," he said.
Al-Nassr, third with 18 points, face league leaders Al-Hilal on Friday in the Riyadh derby.
(Reporting by Mohamed Yossry in Cairo; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
