RIYADH — Cristiano Ronaldo delivered another memorable performance as Al Nassr advanced to the Asian Champions League Two final with a hard-fought victory in the semifinals on Wednesday, keeping alive the Portuguese superstar’s quest for a major trophy in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored once and provided an assist as Al Nassr defeated their opponent 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final of Asia’s second-tier club competition. The result marks a significant milestone for the Saudi club, which has invested heavily in global talent to elevate its profile on the continental stage.
Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January 2023, has embraced his role as the team’s leader and talisman. In the decisive semifinal leg, the 41-year-old forward demonstrated that age has not diminished his hunger or ability to perform in crucial moments. His goal came at a vital time, breaking the deadlock and shifting momentum firmly in Al Nassr’s favor.
Al Nassr’s path to the final has been impressive. After navigating a challenging group stage and knockout rounds, the team showed resilience and tactical maturity under coach Luis Castro. The Portuguese manager has built a system that maximizes Ronaldo’s strengths while integrating other high-profile players such as Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic and new signings who have added depth to the squad.
The Asian Champions League Two, formerly known as the AFC Cup, offers clubs from across Asia a platform to compete for continental glory. For Al Nassr, reaching the final represents validation of the club’s ambitious project to become a powerhouse in Asian football. Victory in the competition would also provide a strong boost ahead of future campaigns in the more prestigious AFC Champions League Elite.
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Ronaldo’s presence has transformed expectations around Al Nassr. Since arriving in the Saudi Pro League, he has consistently delivered goals and moments of brilliance, helping the team challenge for domestic honors while gaining valuable experience in Asian competitions. His leadership on and off the pitch has been credited with elevating the standards at the club and inspiring younger players in the squad.
Wednesday’s semifinal victory was not without drama. The opponent mounted a strong challenge, particularly in the first half, forcing Al Nassr to defend deeply at times. However, Ronaldo’s experience proved decisive. His assist for the opening goal showcased his vision and precision, while his own strike demonstrated the clinical finishing that has defined his legendary career.
Post-match, Ronaldo expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress but remained focused on the ultimate prize. “We are one step closer to something special,” he told reporters. “The final will be very difficult, but this group has the quality and mentality to win it. I came here to help the club achieve big things, and we are getting closer.”
Coach Luis Castro praised Ronaldo’s influence. “He is an example for everyone,” Castro said. “Not just because of his goals, but his work rate, professionalism and desire to win. Tonight he showed why he is still one of the best in the world.”
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Al Nassr will now prepare for the two-legged final, scheduled for later in May. The opponent will be determined from the other semifinal, with several strong teams still in contention. A victory in the final would mark Al Nassr’s first major Asian title and add another chapter to Ronaldo’s remarkable career story.
The achievement comes amid growing interest in Saudi football. The Saudi Pro League has attracted numerous world-class players in recent years, raising the overall standard and visibility of clubs like Al Nassr. Reaching the Asian final further enhances the league’s reputation and demonstrates that Saudi teams can compete successfully on the continental level.
For Ronaldo, the campaign carries personal significance. After winning every major honor in Europe, he has set his sights on success in Asia. A title with Al Nassr would silence critics who questioned his decision to move to the Middle East and add another trophy to his already glittering collection.
Fans in Riyadh and across Saudi Arabia celebrated the result late into the night. Social media was flooded with messages of support for Ronaldo and the team, with many highlighting his enduring impact at an age when most players have retired. The victory also boosts Al Nassr’s chances of qualifying for next season’s elite continental competition.
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As the final approaches, Al Nassr will focus on recovery and tactical preparation. The squad possesses a blend of experience and youthful energy that could prove decisive. Key players are expected to be available, though rotation and fitness management will be crucial given the demanding schedule.
The Asian Champions League Two final promises to be a showcase of the best club football Asia has to offer. Al Nassr enters as one of the favorites, driven by Ronaldo’s ambition and the collective strength of a talented roster.
This run to the final also highlights the growing competitiveness of Saudi clubs. With significant investment and strategic planning, teams from the kingdom are challenging traditional Asian powerhouses and reshaping the continental hierarchy.
For Ronaldo, every match brings him closer to adding an Asian title to his legacy. His journey from European champion to Middle Eastern trailblazer continues to captivate football fans worldwide. As Al Nassr prepares for the biggest game of the season, all eyes will be on the Portuguese superstar and his teammates as they chase glory on the Asian stage.
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The road to the final has been challenging, but Al Nassr has shown the character and quality required at this level. With Ronaldo leading the charge, the club stands on the brink of history. The football world will be watching to see if they can take that final step.
Furniture manufacturer Westbridge has entered administration
15:35, 23 Apr 2026Updated 15:35, 23 Apr 2026
Westbridge.
Nearly 300 workers have lost their jobs at a Welsh furniture firm following its collapse into administration. Westbridge had been a respected furniture designer and manufacturer, providing sofas and other upholstered items to several high street and premium independent retailers.
The company employed just under 300 people at its facility in Holywell, Flintshire. Chris Pole and Will Wright from Interpath were last month appointed joint administrators to Westbridge Furniture Limited and Belfield Leisure Limited, based in Derbyshire.
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They had kept the businesses running while evaluating market interest in buying them and preserving the jobs and sites.
However, the joint administrators have now confirmed that 297 staff had been made redundant
They said: “Chris Pole and Will Wright from Interpath were appointed joint administrators following operational disruption, weak trading and the loss of a key customer.
“Since their last update the joint administrators had maintained operations at Westbridge Furniture, while they completed outstanding work in progress and assessed interest in the business.
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“Without any viable offers for the business, production ceased on April 2 and the business progressed with a wind-up process. It is with regret that the majority of the business’ 297 remaining staff have since been made redundant.
“The administrators will continue to provide support to those impacted, including supporting them with claims to the Redundancy Payments Service. A small number of staff have been retained to assist the joint administrators in their duties.”
Chris Pole, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator of Westbridge Furniture Limited, said: “The team at Westbridge has shown exceptional professionalism in maintaining production while we explored options.
“Regrettably, as no viable offers for the business were received, it was no longer possible to continue trading and we have had to take the difficult decision to close the business. We recognise this has been a challenging period for staff and I’d like to express my sincere thanks for their commitment.”
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The joint administrators have since agreed the sale of the exclusive intellectual property and design rights to the full Westbridge independent product catalogue to sofa and upholstery manufacturer, Whitemeadow. The buyer intends to engage with stockists of Westbridge products to ensure continuity where possible.
Chris Pole added: “The agreement to sell the IP and design rights to Whitemeadow preserves Westbridge’s range for retailers. We wish the Whitemeadow team all the best as it embarks on a development programme to reintroduce those designs to the market.”
The joint administrators are continuing to operate and assess possibilities for Belfield Leisure Limited, which also forms part of The Belfield Group.
Rory Boland, travel editor at consumer publication Which?, says overall cancellations will be a very small proportion of the millions of flights in and out of the UK, and the changes will be targeted on routes where there are multiple flights a day so that passengers can be rebooked on to an earlier or later flight.
Bosses also blasted a “ridiculous tax” levied on the industry
The Greencroft Two site by Lanchester Group of Companies is now taking shape(Image: Lanchester Group)
Wine bottling firm Greencroft Bottling has blamed disruption in the Suez Canal for marring what would have been an exceptional year.
The County Durham-based business, which claims to be one of the most sustainable large contract firms of its type “on the planet” said temporary closure of the key waterway in 2024 impacted otherwise brilliant results. Attacks by Houthi Rebels on shipping in the Red Sea caused a drastic reduction in traffic through the canal, which Greencroft says caused “havoc” – leading to millions of pounds of penalties and other costs as huge volumes of wine hit North East ports over a two week period.
Despite the challenges, Greencroft, which is part of the Lanchester Group, managed to increase operating profits from £1.56m to £2.78m in the year to the end of June, 2025. Newly published documents also show turnover at the 300-strong firm increased from £62.5m to £86m.
With a £20m new production facility called Greencroft 2 now completed at its Annfield Plain base, and significant investments in sustainability measures, the firm is now looking ahead to what it expects to be its best ever year. Together with a new semi-automated warehouse, the new production facility – with the potential for 400million litres of capacity annually – is expected to make the company the “most efficient wine bottling and storage operation certainly in the UK if not in Europe”.
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Bosses also looked forward to the benefits of bulk wine shipping, which is said to be better for the product and give the business high volumes. The new premises, powered by wind and solar energy, has the potential to handle the equivalent of 28% of all wine sold in the UK.
Writing in the Greencroft Bottling Company Limited accounts, managing director Mark Satchwell said: “Greencroft Bottling Company has had an excellent year with volume increasing by well over 20% which is amazing considering we have had such a turbulent year here in the UK, the new 18,000 an hour filling line in Greencroft 2 has been integrated into the business and working well and we have invested in more automation in our tank facility increasing our efficiency more than 40%.
“We continue to invest in the business with more automation to keep our cost base as low as possible the new Labour Government increased wine duty massively again this year after to huge 20% rise just 12 months ago, this is really harming the whole industry with duty alone moving up by nearly 40% over the last 15 months.
“And we have Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to contend with yet another ridiculous tax on all businesses, but the liquor and hospitality industries have been the hardest hit it seems and not surprisingly there is at least one pub a day closing which is really harming the local communities.”
A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.
Kevin Warsh can credit more than $100 million of his vast fortune to a lucrative regulatory carveout that favors family office executives and investment professionals, family office attorneys told Inside Wealth.
While single-family offices are widely understood to only manage family members’ assets, a little-known exception allows certainemployees to invest with the ultra-wealthy families they work for.
Warsh’s recent financial disclosures are putting the carveout on display.
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The Federal Reserve chair nominee has two stakes worth at least $50 million each in a vehicle called the Juggernaut Fund, according to the filings. The fund is managed by Duquesne Family Office, the personal investment firm of billionaire hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller.
Warsh joined Duquesne as a partner and advisor after leaving the Fed in 2011 and has interests in dozens of other Duquesne entities. The underlying assets in the Juggernaut Fund are not detailed, citing Warsh’s “pre-existing confidentiality agreements” with the firm.
An attorney who has advised family offices for 30 years told CNBC it’s increasingly common for family offices to structure compensation for their key employees in a similar manner to private equity firms. That could include incentive fees from investments or opportunities to co-invest capital, said the lawyer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely.
Family offices often lend money to these employees in order to fund their capital commitments and forgive them over time or apply future bonuses toward the debt, the lawyer said.
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Single-family offices can allow employees to co-invest thanks to a family office rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2011. Under that rule, family offices do not have to register as investment advisors so long as they only advise or manage assets for family clients, a category that includes key employees along with family members of the firm founder.
To qualify, key employees must occupy a senior position like director or a executive officer or be involved in the firm’s investment activity, according to the SEC. Investment professionals must have held these duties at the family office or another company for at least 12 months, per the SEC.
“I think the SEC staff at the time was sympathetic to the family office community’s concerns about making investment opportunities and in-house investment staff as robust as possible,” said a lawyer at a New York City firm, who asked to remain anonymous to speak about the matter. “They recognized that attracting and retaining that type of talent required providing executives that level of compensation.”
Lawyers told Inside Wealth that Warsh likely falls under the key employee exception. Duquesne and a representative of Warsh did not respond to requests for comment.
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Evan Hall, partner at investment management practice group at Haynes Boone, said the “key employee” category is somewhat flexible, however.
“If you’re an employee of the firm who participates in investment decisions, it doesn’t have to be allinvestment decisions for the family office,” Hall said. “People can game it a little bit. Can a consultant fit in the key-employee definition? It really seems kind of murky, but that’s a line we see a lot.”
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Warsh has promised to divest his Duquesne-affiliated investments if he’s confirmed as Fed chair, but he has not disclosed how he would do so.
Lawyers who spoke with Inside Wealth said Warsh would have to sell them to the Druckenmiller family or another family client in order for Duquesne to comply with the family office rule.
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“I will say that if he doesn’t have friendly partners willing to buy him out, getting out of underlying investments tends to be very difficult,” said another New York lawyer, who similarly requested to remain anonymous to speak candidly. “Otherwise it’s very difficult to get out of private investments.”
At Tuesday’s Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D.-Mass, asked Warsh if he would sell those interests back to Druckenmiller.
“Will you disclose how you divest those assets? Or will you just collect a check for $100 million from someone whose whole business is betting on what the Fed will do?” Warren said.
Warsh said he had come to an agreement with the Office of Government Ethics, but did not give specific details about that.
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Although Warsh’s nomination and wealth have cast attention on how family offices compensate their employees, lawyer Michael Schwamm, a partner at Duane Morris, said it’s unlikely that it will invite regulatory scrutiny on how key employees are defined or how many can co-invest.
He said the SEC would probably only act if an investment went bad and an employee lost their life savings and came after the firm in a public way.
“I would not be surprised if there are family officers that have tripped the line, but is this something that the SEC is actively gonna go after?” he said. “Not until something happens.”
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