Cristiano Ronaldo set to lose $80M Al Nassr teammate to former coach Jose Mourinho
Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract extension with Al Nassr has brought stability to the Saudi club, which continues to build a competitive squad around the Portuguese icon. However, one key piece of that puzzle is now on the move, as a $80 million teammate is set to depart and join Ronaldo’s former coach, Jose Mourinho.
The 2024–25 season has been underwhelming for Al Nassr, with the club falling short in the title race and failing to qualify for the next edition of the AFC Champions League. Without international competitions on the calendar, the club is expected to offload underperforming players—and one major move is close to being finalized.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Colombian striker Jhon Duran has agreed to join Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce. Mourinho, now managing the Istanbul-based club, identified Durán as a priority target. The 21-year-old is expected to sign on loan until June 2026, with his arrival imminent.
Duran joined Al Nassr last winter from Aston Villa in a €77 million deal (approximately $80M USD), touted as the ideal strike partner for Ronaldo. While the Colombian showed flashes of promise, including a handful of goals, he struggled to deliver in key matches. With Al Nassr continuing to seek the right attacking formula, Duran is now headed back to Europe in search of consistent minutes.
Ronaldo will lose a productive contributor, as Duran notched 12 goals in 18 appearances—ranking third among Al Nassr scorers behind Ronaldo and Sadio Mane. With several players facing uncertain futures, including Mohamed Simakan and Aymeric Laporte, the club is actively reshaping the roster in hopes of delivering Ronaldo his first official trophy with the team.
Duran eyes European revival
Duran initially made the jump to Europe with Aston Villa in 2023, after a breakout spell with MLS side Chicago Fire. Early in his Premier League stint, he earned a reputation as a super sub under Unai Emery, delivering key goals in both league and UEFA competition. But with Ollie Watkins locking down the starting striker role, Durs\an began drawing interest from clubs across Europe, eventually landing with Al Nassr.
Though he found the net multiple times in Saudi Arabia, his on-field chemistry with Ronaldo never fully materialized. Both players often occupied the same space on the pitch, leading to inconsistent starts and a place on the bench for the younger forward. With Fenerbahce now covering the full extent of his salary, Mourinho will look to reignite Durán’s form as he makes his return to European soccer.