Cristiano Ronaldo thanked Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia on Instagram – despite reports he was ‘unsatisfied’ with the coach’s tactics
- Cristiano Ronaldo posts message to outgoing Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia
- The Portuguese posted a goodbye to his former manager on Instagram
- Garcia was sacked by the Saudi Arabian club after falling out with the players
Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence after the sacking of Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia.
The Saudi Arabian Pro League club sacked boss Garcia this week and announced on Twitter that the Frenchman would be leaving the club with immediate effect.
Garcia was appointed in July last year and the former Marseille and Lyon coach had had a successful spell, averaging 2.27 points per game and with the club currently second in the table.
However, following Sunday’s goalless draw against Al Feiha, Ronaldo stormed off the pitch yelling at his opponents that they ‘didn’t want to play’ and he and his teammates later got involved in a flare-up with the opposing players.
Reports subsequently circulated that Garcia had lost the dressing room following a split with the players, with claims that Ronaldo was unhappy with the club’s poor form and recent change in tactics.
Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence over the sacking of Al-Nassr manager Rudi Garcia
Ronaldo took to Instagram to send Garcia a farewell message following the club’s sacking
Rudi Garcia was sacked by the Saudi Arabian club after Sunday’s goalless draw against Al Feiha
Despite those reports, Ronaldo has had his say on Garcia’s departure from the club, posting a message to his former boss in the wake of his firing.
Captioned with an image of the couple embracing in a handshake, the 38-year-old said: ‘A pleasure to have worked with you. I wish you all the best for the future.’
Sunday’s draw leaves Al-Nassr three points behind leaders Al-lttihad, with seven games remaining in the season.
The club quickly puts on a successor to Garcia and promotes U19 coach Dinko Jelicic to head coach ahead of the derby with Al Hilal on Tuesday.
Garcia (left) poses with Ronaldo as the Portuguese star revealed earlier this year
However, it is believed the club has a plan to appoint one of Europe’s elite bosses as their next manager, in the hope that a huge financial package could entice a big name to take the job.
One of Ronaldo’s former managers has already been linked to the post, with Roma boss Jose Mourinho among the names in the frame, along with Zinedine Zidane who is currently out of work.
Since moving to Saudi Arabia early this year, Ronaldo has captained the club and has scored 11 goals in 12 appearances for the club.