Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr eye Sporting move, Varandas won't block | OneFootball

After six seasons in Sporting’s service, Pedro Gonçalves admits he is living a decisive moment in his career and has the door open to assess his future in the next summer transfer window. The Portugal international remains one of the standout figures in Sporting’s squad, but his long-held desire to try another league is still very much alive.

According to O Jogo, the name of the ‘number 8’ is once again gaining traction outside Portugal, with Al Nassr’s interest standing out. The Saudi club, managed by Jorge Jesus and featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, is emerging as one of the strongest possibilities for Pote’s future.

The attacking midfielder recently renewed his contract with Sporting until 2030, but that does not rule out a possible departure. In the past, West Ham, Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen showed concrete interest in the player. In 2023, the Germans even went as high as €30 million, an offer rejected by Sporting’s SAD.

At the time, Frederico Varandas considered Pedro Gonçalves an indispensable piece for Ruben Amorim and blocked all approaches that did not meet the club’s demands. Even so, the player has never hidden his ambition to move abroad and land the biggest contract of his career, especially now that he is approaching 28 years of age, a milestone he will reach next month.

Despite the various injuries that have affected part of his recent journey, Pedro Gonçalves’ performances remain at a high level. In 2025/26, he has recorded 15 goals and six assists in 40 matches, numbers well above those posted the previous season. Rui Borges has already publicly highlighted the midfielder’s importance in Sporting’s dressing room: “He is extremely important not only to me, but to the group. He knows the influence he has in a young and competitive team. His importance to the group is huge.”

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