Cristiano Ronaldo sends message to Rudi Garcia following manager's exit at Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo has wished Rudi Garcia well for the future after the Al Nassr manager’s much-anticipated exit from the club was confirmed on Thursday.

The Saudi side, nine-time domestic champions, announced they had parted company with the Frenchman “by mutual agreement”, bringing an end to his eight-and-a-half-month tenure.

Garcia, 59, leaves Nassr second in the Saudi Pro League, with the Riyadh club three points behind Al Ittihad with seven games remaining. He has been replaced, initially at least, by Under 19 manager Dinko Jelicic.

On Thursday, in response to Garcia’s exit, Ronaldo posted on Instagram a picture with the former Roma coach together with a note reading: “Pleasure to have worked with you. Wishing you all the best for the future.”

Nassr, who later posted pictures of Garcia attending the club’s annual iftar and saying goodbye to players, had earlier said in a statement: “Al Nassr can announce that head coach Rudi Garcia has left the club by mutual agreement.

“The board and everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Rudi and his staff for their dedicated work during the past eight months.”

It was reported that Garcia’s tactics had been questioned by some of Nassr’s senior players, including Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who joined the club in December for a deal believed to be worth more than $200 million per year, has scored 11 goals in 10 league matches.

However, Nassr have won only two of their past four top-flight games as they chase a first championship crown in four years. Last time out, they drew 0-0 with Al Feiha, prompting Ronaldo to vent his frustration at full time.

The Portuguese forward, 38, removed his captain’s armband and exchanged seemingly angry words with teammates and opposition players before leaving the pitch.

Nassr are next in action on Tuesday, in the hugely significant derby against current domestic and Asian champions Al Hilal.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer