Stefano Pioli’s agent Valerio Giuffrida recently shed light on his clients unexpected move to Al Nassr, the Saudi Arabian club that boasts Cristiano Ronaldo among its ranks. Speaking with TMW, Giuffrida said:
“We thought we were already on vacation in early September when the first contacts with Al Nassr began,” Giuffrida revealed. He went on to explain that Al Nassr wasn’t the first Saudi club they had discussions with during the summer, hinting at the growing interest in Italian coaching expertise in the Middle East.
The agent described the negotiation process as “very simple and quick,” attributing this to the instant connection between Pioli and Fernando Hierro, Al Nassr’s sporting director. Giuffrida emphasized the similarities between the two, stating:
“When Hierro and Pioli spoke, they found themselves in sync both empathically and from a technical sporting perspective, as they are two profoundly similar people.”
This mutual understanding seems to have laid the foundation for a promising partnership, with Pioli already making a significant impact by winning five consecutive matches since his arrival.
Giuffrida also took the opportunity to discuss another client, Davide Nicola, currently managing Cagliari. While Nicola has built a reputation for salvaging difficult situations, Giuffrida believes this label doesn’t do justice to the coach’s true value.
Describing Nicola as a figure “surrounded by an aura of magic,” Giuffrida shared a personal anecdote that highlights the coach’s inspirational qualities:
“One day, I was feeling down about personal matters while discussing contract details for his move to Cagliari. At the end of the call, having sensed my mood, he said, ‘Valerio, what’s wrong? Come on, cheer up!’ before hanging up. He transferred energy to me with just those few words, motivating me to face the day with renewed enthusiasm.”
Giuffrida marveled at Nicola’s ability to inspire, adding, “I can only imagine how his players must feel and why they give 200%.”
