AC Milan Owner and Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Team Up to Bid for Al Nassr

Search interest for ac milan surged in India on 16 September 2026, driven by reports that the club's owner, Gerry Cardinale, is collaborating with Cristiano Ronaldo to potentially acquire the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. This development highlights a growing trend in global football where investment firms leverage multi-club ownership models to expand their influence across different continents.

The Proposed Consortium and Financials

According to reports from 15 September 2026, a consortium of five high-profile investors is preparing a proposal to acquire Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). As detailed by Plataforma Media, the group reportedly includes:

• Cristiano Ronaldo: The current star player of Al Nassr, who would move into an unprecedented role as a co-owner of the team he represents.
• Gerry Cardinale: The founder of RedBird Capital Partners, the investment firm that owns ac milan.
• Ibrahim Al-Muhaidib
• Mohammed Al-Khuraiji
• Sharaf Al-Hariri

The financial scale of the bid is significant, with each of the five investors expected to make a financial commitment of approximately $100 million (roughly €92 million).

RedBird Capital's Multi-Club Strategy

For Gerry Cardinale, this move is not an isolated investment but part of a broader strategic blueprint. RedBird Capital Partners already employs a multi-club ownership model, which currently includes the Italian giants ac milan and France's Toulouse. By potentially adding Al Nassr to this portfolio, RedBird would establish a strategic foothold in the Saudi Pro League, one of the fastest-growing football markets in the world.

Current Status: Preliminary and Unconfirmed

Despite the high-profile names involved, it is important to note that as of mid-September 2026, the deal is described as "far from concluded." Italian sources indicate that Cardinale's initial contacts have been preliminary and indirect, serving primarily to evaluate the conditions for entering Al Nassr's capital. A decisive meeting between RedBird representatives and the Public Investment Fund was expected within 48 hours of the 15 September report to determine if a formal proposal is viable.

Parallel Administrative Shifts at Al Nassr

While the ownership bid remains preliminary, Al Nassr is already considering internal restructuring. According to Goal.com, the club is evaluating changes to its executive hierarchy, including a potential shift in the role of CEO José Semedo. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to play an influential role in these sporting and administrative changes, further cementing his importance to the club's future regardless of the ownership outcome.