Roberto Martinez in Talks with Al-Nassr Amid World Cup Campaign

Roberto Martinez is edging toward a new chapter, and it may take him deep into the Saudi desert.

According to French outlet RMC Sport, the Portugal head coach is in talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, the club of Cristiano Ronaldo. Discussions are understood to have started even before the World Cup kicked off, a clear sign that both parties have been planning beyond the glare of the tournament.

For now, Martinez is still the man in charge of Portugal. His team opened their FIFA World Cup campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo on Wednesday, a result that immediately places them under pressure in Group K. At 40, Ronaldo led the line and played the full 90 minutes, but the Iberian side could not turn possession into three points.

The draw leaves Portugal sitting third in the group. Colombia, who beat Uzbekistan later in the day, have taken early control at the top of the table. The margins are already tight, the stakes already rising.

All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Martinez’s contract situation. His deal with Portugal runs only until the end of the tournament, and RMC Sport reports that his tenure could conclude as soon as Portugal’s World Cup journey ends. The former Belgium coach, who has long been linked with ambitious projects, appears to have a ready-made landing spot.

Al-Nassr’s interest is no mystery. The club has built a star-laden squad around Ronaldo and continues to position itself as one of the flagships of the Saudi Pro League’s rapid expansion. Bringing in a coach with Martinez’s international pedigree would fit that strategy perfectly.

For Martinez, the move would reunite him with the biggest name in his current dressing room in a very different environment. For Portugal, it raises an obvious question: how long will their World Cup campaign double as a farewell tour for their coach?