Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr Part Ways with Coach Castro 

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Fayah v Al-Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - August 27, 2024 Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Fayah v Al-Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - August 27, 2024 Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro reacts. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr Part Ways with Coach Castro 

Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Fayah v Al-Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - August 27, 2024 Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro reacts. (Reuters)
Football - Saudi Pro League - Al-Fayah v Al-Nassr - King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia - August 27, 2024 Al-Nassr coach Luis Castro reacts. (Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi club Al-Nassr announced the departure of Portuguese coach Luis Castro on Tuesday, a day after starting their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with a disappointing draw.

Monday's 1-1 stalemate with Iraq's Al-Shorta in the Asian competition compounded a slow start to the domestic season with the current contract of Ronaldo, 39, due to expire next summer.

"Al-Nassr can announce that head coach Luis Castro has left the club," said a statement posted on X.

"Everyone at Al-Nassr would like to thank Luis and his staff for their dedicated work during the past 14 months, wishing them the best of luck for the future."

Castro, 63, is the third coach to depart Al-Nassr since Ronaldo's groundbreaking arrival in early 2023.

Frenchman Rudi Garcia quickly left that April, followed by a brief stint by Croatian coach Dinko Jelicic before Castro was appointed in July last year.

Al-Nassr, who finished a distant second in the last Saudi Pro League season, have drawn twice in three matches at the start of the new campaign.



Roma Fires Daniele De Rossi after Going Winless in its Opening 4 Serie A Matches

(FILES) Roma's Italian head coach Daniele De Rossi arrives for the start of the Italian Serie A football match AS Roma against Empoli at Olympic stadium, in Rome on August 25, 2024. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
(FILES) Roma's Italian head coach Daniele De Rossi arrives for the start of the Italian Serie A football match AS Roma against Empoli at Olympic stadium, in Rome on August 25, 2024. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
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Roma Fires Daniele De Rossi after Going Winless in its Opening 4 Serie A Matches

(FILES) Roma's Italian head coach Daniele De Rossi arrives for the start of the Italian Serie A football match AS Roma against Empoli at Olympic stadium, in Rome on August 25, 2024. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
(FILES) Roma's Italian head coach Daniele De Rossi arrives for the start of the Italian Serie A football match AS Roma against Empoli at Olympic stadium, in Rome on August 25, 2024. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Roma fired coach Daniele De Rossi on Wednesday in a move that was surprising despite the Giallorossi going winless in their opening four Italian league matches.
De Rossi, a former Roma captain, was hired in January to replace the fired Jose Mourinho and impressed so much during the second half of last season that he was given a contract extension in June through 2026-27.
“The club’s decision is made in the best interests of the team, to get back on the desired path as soon as possible at a time when the season is still in its early stages,” Roma said. “A heartfelt thank you to Daniele, who will always be at home at the Giallorossi club, for the work done in recent months with passion and dedication.”
According to The Associated Press, Roma added that “communication regarding the team’s technical guidance will follow.”
Roma hosts Serie A leader Udinese on Sunday.
After opening with a scoreless draw at Cagliari, Roma was beaten 2-1 at home by Empoli. Draws at Juventus (0-0) and Genoa (1-1) followed — leaving Roma with only three points and in 16th place.
De Rossi had transformed Roma into a better attacking unit than Mourinho’s defensive teams but this season has produced only two goals.
Next week, Roma opens its Europa League campaign against Athletic Bilbao at the Stadio Olimpico.