Samu Costa: Spanish coach backs €9m midfielder to transform Al Nassr’s balance alongside Ronaldo

Al Nassr’s anticipated signing of Portuguese midfielder Samu Costa from Real Mallorca will give the Saudi Pro League side a powerful new “balance” in front of defence and a natural on‐field ally for Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a Spanish coach who has worked in La Liga.

Saudi media reports say Al Nassr have reached agreement with Real Mallorca to sign the 23‐year‐old for around €9m in the current summer transfer window, as the Riyadh club reshape their squad under new head coach Ange Postecoglou.

‘Tactically sharp’ midfielder

Speaking to Al Arabiya TV, Spanish coach David Martinez said Costa’s strengths lie in his tactical intelligence and defensive discipline rather than in pure flair.

“I know Samu Costa well, he plays for Real Mallorca, a club that is always fighting to avoid relegation to the second division,” Martinez said.

“Samu Costa will add strength to the team, as well as balance on the defensive side, because he is a sharp tactical player and usually reads matches very well.”

Martinez stressed that while Costa is not a typical playmaker, his decision‐making and positioning make him highly effective in controlling games from deep.

“He is not technically brilliant, but he makes many good decisions during matches, and usually prefers to play in his own half rather than in the opponent’s half,” he explained.

Key to game tempo and defensive solidity

The Spaniard believes Costa’s biggest contribution at Al Nassr would be his ability to organise the team’s structure behind the ball and give licence to the club’s attacking stars to push forward.

“He always maintains the rhythm of matches, which will help the forwards a lot, and therefore his role will be essential to achieve balance in the team’s defence,” Martinez said.

Costa, who has built his reputation in La Liga as a combative holding midfielder, is seen as the type of player who can shield the back line and recycle possession quickly – qualities that could prove crucial in a side often asked to dominate the ball.

Fitting into Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy

Addressing how Costa might fit into Al Nassr’s tactical setup, Martinez referred directly to the style of incoming coach Postecoglou, who is known for his aggressive, possession‐based football.

“With (Ange) Postecoglou, Al Nassr will play attacking football, and will try to dominate matches through short passes and moving the ball forward to play in the opponent’s half,” he said.

“Samu Costa can play in midfield or any other position, but that will depend on who plays with him, and he can also play between the two central defenders to build attacks.”

That flexibility – dropping into the defensive line to start moves or stepping up as a screening midfielder – is likely to be attractive to Postecoglou, whose teams often rely on fluid positional rotations and controlled build‐up from the back.

Connection with Cristiano Ronaldo ‘useful’ for Al Nassr

Martinez also highlighted the importance of Costa’s Portuguese background and potential understanding with Al Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo, suggesting that shared language and footballing culture could ease the transition.

“From my point of view, the coach always wants players who know each other, because the adaptation period is short, and this relationship will be useful for the club,” he said.

“Samu Costa can create balance, and I am sure Cristiano Ronaldo will welcome him a lot, and that will be beneficial for Al Nassr.”

If the transfer is finalised, Costa would join an Al Nassr side aiming to reclaim the Saudi Pro League title and make a deeper impact in continental competition, with Martinez convinced the midfielder’s understated qualities could prove decisive in tightening the team’s structure around its star‐studded attack.