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Real Madrid sporting director joins Ronaldo in Al Nassr

Real Madrid and Spain legend Fernando Hierro has joined Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr after being appointed as the club’s sporting director.

The 56-year-old had been sporting director at Mexican side Chivas since October 2022 but stepped down last month and has taken up the role in Saudi Arabia.

ESPN report that this is not the first time Al Nassr have tried to snap up the Spaniard, but have returned with a better offer and eventually got their man.

Hierro played for Real Madrid from 1989-2003, making 601 appearances for Los Blancos and scoring 127 goals from centre-back and holding midfield.

His immense stint in the Spanish capital say him win five La Liga titles and the Champions League three times, before moving to Qatari side Al Rayyan in 2003 and then finishing his career at Bolton Wanderers in the 2004-05 season.

Hierro has held varying roles since retirement from playing, working as sporting director for Spain, then being thrown into managing the national team at the 2018 World Cup after the unexpected departure of Julen Lopetegui just before the tournament.

He also had a brief spell in charge of Oviedo and worked as a coach under Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid from 2014-15, when Ronaldo was still at the club.

An Al Nassr statement read: ‘Following the signing, Hierro sent special remarks via the club’s platforms to AlNassr supporters, expressing his excitement about being a part of the club’s project and his great delight with this step.’

Hierro will be tasked with helping Al Nassr overturn the dominance of Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

The team managed by Jorge Jesus finished the league season unbeaten, with 96 points from 34 games, 14 points ahead of Al Nassr in second.

Al Hilal also beat Ronaldo’s team on penalties to win the King Cup, leaving the Portuguese superstar in tears.

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AFCON 2025: Yobo to serve as draw assistant

Former Super Eagles defender Joseph Yobo has been selected as one of the draw assistants for the final draw of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The draw ceremony is set to take place today at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, where the 24 qualified teams will discover their paths to the trophy.

Yobo will be joined by other African football icons, including Mustapha Hadji, Serge Aurier, and Aliou Cisse.

The quartet will not only oversee the draw by selecting balls from the pots but will also share their insights on the tournament groups.

The 2025 AFCON finals will be hosted in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

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Super Eagles will succeed under Eric Chelle – Sadiq Umar

Super Eagles forward Umar Sadiq has expressed his support for the team’s new head coach, Eric Chelle, and is optimistic about his success in the role.

Chelle was appointed as the Super Eagles’ head coach earlier this month, a decision that has sparked criticism directed at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Despite the backlash, Sadiq is confident in the 47-year-old’s ability to lead the team effectively.

“You can see what he did in the last AFCON. Everyone thought Mali was one of the favorites,” Sadiq told Sporty TV.

“You can see how they played. They were so good, but they got knocked out in the quarterfinals because, sometimes, it’s not the best team that wins.

“But I can tell you, I watched a lot of Mali’s games because I have a teammate there. You can see how they play, and it’s clear the coach (Chelle) has a lot of great ideas.”

Chelle’s impressive work with Mali during the previous AFCON has given Sadiq confidence that the coach can bring similar success to the Super Eagles.

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‘I’m happy to be out there’ — Dessers opens up on Rangers exit

Cyriel Dessers has expressed his intention to remain at Rangers beyond the winter transfer window despite speculation about his future.

The Nigerian international began the season as Rangers’ first-choice striker but has since lost his spot to Hamza Igamane.

Dessers has been linked with a return to Italy, with reports suggesting interest from Cagliari and Empoli. Spanish club Leganes is also reportedly keen on signing the former Feyenoord forward.

In a recent interview, Dessers acknowledged plans to discuss his status at the club with senior officials. However, the 30-year-old revealed that no such talks have taken place yet.

“No talks at all. I don’t mind that. I try to focus on the football and the things that are happening on the pitch,” Dessers told the Daily Record.

“Those are the things that I can control. And like Sunday at Tannadice, I’m just happy to be out there with the guys, fighting for the points and being important.

“That’s what I want. There’s a lot of unfinished business at Rangers for me. That’s why I kept pushing in the last weeks—in the gym, in training, and in the minutes that you get.”

Despite his recent challenges, Dessers has had an impressive season, scoring 18 goals across all competitions under manager Philippe Clement.