{
  "id": 15599351,
  "title": "To prep for sale of Ronaldo’s Saudi team, PIF pays off $213 million debt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/to-prep-for-sale-of-ronaldos-saudi-team-pif-pays-off-213-million-debt",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-19T11:33:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Semafor",
    "slug": "semafor",
    "url": "https://www.semafor.com/article/10/19/2026/to-prep-for-sale-of-ronaldos-saudi-team-pif-pays-off-213-million-debt"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is using its portfolio companies to pay off a $213 million debt held by soccer club Al Nassr, where star player Cristiano Ronaldo plays. PIF is strengthening the balance sheet of the Saudi Pro League club to facilitate a potential sale to investors led by AC Milan owner RedBird Capital. RedBird, which has held at least two meetings with PIF about acquiring a 70% stake in the team, is expected to pay around 1 billion riyals ($267 million) for the stake. Ronaldo is also anticipated to hold a 20% share in the team. Other investors may include the privately held Saudi Media Company (SMC). Final terms have not been agreed upon and could still change. PIF and RedBird have declined to comment, while Al Nassr and Ronaldo's representatives have yet to respond to requests for comment. Acquiring Al Nassr could help RedBird strengthen its ties with Ronaldo, whose investment firm CR7 holds a 25% stake in a Spanish club backed by SMC. This move would put RedBird at the center of Saudi Arabia's sports expansion efforts, which aim to turn around loss-making soccer clubs and the LIV Golf tournament.",
  "summary": "Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund is arranging sponsorship deals to cover the soccer team’s debt.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Wamda",
        "title": "Saudi Vrtx secures $3.6 million for embedded finance platform",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/saudi-vrtx-secures-3-6-million-for-embedded-finance-platform",
        "published": "2026-10-19T06:42:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}