Jhon Duran Rapid Al-Nassr Exit: From Ronaldo Shadow to Mourinho New Hope at Fenerbahce

After Just Six Months, £70m Star Looks Set to Leave Saudi Arabia as Al-Nassr Face Summer of Upheaval

Back in January, Jhon Duran’s record-breaking move from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr raised more than a few eyebrows. The Saudi Pro League outfit paid a staggering £70 million for the 21-year-old Colombian striker—a signing that screamed ambition, spectacle, and a long-term vision built around global names like Cristiano Ronaldo.

Fast-forward just six months, and that same headline-grabbing deal appears to be unravelling. Duran, despite a decent return of 12 goals in 18 appearances, is now on the verge of walking away from Al-Nassr. His next destination? A loan switch to Turkish giants Fenerbahce, with none other than Jose Mourinho personally driving the deal.

It’s a dramatic twist in the tale of one of 2025’s most eye-catching transfers, and one that signals the beginning of a major reshuffle at Al-Nassr after a season that failed to live up to expectations.

The dream move that didn’t quite fit

Duran arrived in Riyadh with fanfare befitting his price tag. At just 21, he had shown flashes of immense potential at Aston Villa and had been courted by several top clubs before the Saudi millions came calling. The allure of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, the chance to be the face of a league in transition, and the promise of a tax-free £320,000-a-week wage packet were understandably hard to resist.

And for a while, it looked like a gamble that might just pay off. Duran settled quickly on the pitch, notching up goals with regularity and seemingly thriving in Ronaldo’s orbit. But football isn’t just about goals—it’s about chemistry, culture, and the dressing room dynamic. And according to reports emerging from Saudi Arabia and Colombia, that’s where things began to unravel.

Friction, frustration, and a fast-tracked exit

Behind the scenes, Duran is said to have clashed with both Al-Nassr staff and national team officials during recent international duty. While the club has remained tight-lipped publicly, sources close to the team suggest the atmosphere around the young forward turned tense. His attitude, described by some as “intense” and by others as “immature,” didn’t sit well in a squad already dealing with the complex dynamics of having a global icon like Ronaldo at its core.

As the second half of the season wore on, it became clear that something had to give. Duran may have been scoring, but harmony was slipping away. Now, less than half a year into his Saudi adventure, Al-Nassr appear ready to hit the reset button—and Duran is ready to move on.

Mourinho steps in: Istanbul calling

Jose Mourinho duran

Enter Jose Mourinho. The new Fenerbahce boss, fresh from a whirlwind arrival in Turkey, has made it clear that he intends to reshape his squad with a mix of youth, power, and pedigree. According to Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho sees Duran as the ideal centrepiece of his attacking rebuild—a raw talent who can be moulded under his tutelage.

The appeal for Duran is clear. A return to Europe. A manager who believes in him. A fresh start in a competitive environment that’s more familiar, both culturally and tactically. The Super Lig may not be the Premier League or La Liga, but it offers far more week-to-week resistance than the relatively young Saudi Pro League.

And perhaps most crucially, it offers a safe financial route. A return to England or most of Europe would trigger a hefty UK tax bill due to Duran’s current two-year tax-free residency rule in Saudi Arabia. According to The Sun, a move to a Premier League club now could cost him millions in back taxes. So, for now, Turkey makes sense.

Al-Nassr’s shake-up: One of many?

Duran’s expected departure won’t be the only change at Al-Nassr this summer. After a second straight trophyless campaign, the club is preparing for a major overhaul—one that could see multiple big names moved on, new faces brought in, and perhaps even a reset of the strategy that has guided their recent galáctico-era spending spree.

Cristiano Ronaldo remains the face of the club and the league, but questions are being asked about the balance of the team and whether too much star power has diluted the structure. There are whispers that a number of fringe players will be offloaded, and the sporting director has reportedly been given full backing to rein in spending and focus on team cohesion.

As for Duran, his story at Al-Nassr may not be completely over. The current plan is for a season-long loan to Fenerbahce. But if things click in Istanbul, and if Mourinho gets his way, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the deal made permanent next summer.

What next for Jhon Duran?

This latest twist in Duran’s career is far from a failure. It’s more a reflection of a young player still finding his place in the game. He’s already tasted the Premier League, experienced the unique pressures of playing next to Cristiano Ronaldo, and now he’s heading into the orbit of Jose Mourinho—arguably one of the most demanding and influential coaches of modern times.

The Colombian striker still has time on his side, and plenty of people in the game remain convinced of his potential. If he can harness his raw ability under Mourinho, avoid off-field distractions, and stay focused, he could easily find himself back on the radar of Europe’s elite within a year.

But for now, it’s a new beginning in Istanbul—and perhaps the chapter where Jhon Duran finally becomes more than just a headline transfer.