Ronaldo's Al Nassr eye Sporting deal and Varandas won't block it | OneFootball

After six seasons in the service of Sporting, Pedro Gonçalves admits he is living through 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 key figures in the Lions’ squad, but his long-standing desire to experience 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 home to 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 euros, an offer rejected by Sporting’s board.

At the time, Frederico Varandas considered Pedro Gonçalves an indispensable piece for Ruben Amorim and blocked every approach that did not meet the asking price. Even so, the player has never hidden his ambition to move abroad and secure the biggest contract of his career, especially now that he is nearing 28, an age he will reach next month.

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

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.