Cristiano Ronaldo could be in line for another awkward reunion at Al Nassr, with Hakim Ziyech the latest Chelsea player set for a move to Saudi Arabia.
Several players are expected to leave Chelsea this summer and make highly lucrative moves to the Saudi Pro League, with midfielder N'Golo Kante the first to make the switch after joining Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad. Kante has signed a four-year deal and is set to earn a reported £86m per year.
The likes of Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are said to also be closing in on similar moves to Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal respectively, while strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Romelu Lukaku are thought to have rejected approaches from Saudi clubs.
Ziyech, meanwhile, is on the verge of an £8m switch to Al Nassr after agreeing terms on a three-year deal, claim the Evening Standard. And that would see him become teammates with Ronaldo.
Notably, Ziyech was part of the Morocco side which ended Ronaldo's World Cup dream just six months ago, leaving the 38-year-old in tears after what is likely to be his final chance to win the World Cup went up in flames. "Winning a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career," Ronaldo said following the defeat.
"Fortunately I won many titles of international dimension, including Portugal, but putting our country's name on the highest foot in the World was my biggest dream. I fought for it. I fought hard for this dream.
"In the 5 appearances I scored in World Cups over 16 years, always by the side of great players and supported by millions of Portuguese, I gave my all. Leave it all out on the field. I never turned my face to the fight and I never gave up on that dream. Sadly yesterday the dream ended.
"I was always one fighting for the objective of all and I would never turn my back on my colleagues and my country. Not much more to say for now. Thank you, Portugal. Thank you, Qatar The dream was nice while it lasted... Now, it's hoping that the weather will be good advisor and allow each one to draw their own conclusions."
It may not be the only potentially awkward reunion, with Marca reporting that Al Nassr have also made an offer for Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez, who was a rival of Ronaldo's during his time at Real Madrid. The midfielder has previously made his feelings clear on Ronaldo, by ranking Luka Modric above him as Real's best player back in 2016 - despite Ronaldo scoring a whopping 51 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions the previous season.
"Luka Modric is Real Madrid's best player," Saul said ahead of a Madrid derby. "We know that they have important players in attack, but Modric moves the team forward."
