Saudi journalist Waleed Al-Faraj criticized Cristiano Ronaldo for refusing to play in the Al-Nassr vs. Al-Riyadh match in the Saudi League, protesting his club’s lack of adequate support during the recently concluded winter transfer window.
Ronaldo had hoped that Al-Nassr would make at least two winter signings, as requested by coach Jorge Jesus. However, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) failed to meet these demands, focusing its efforts, in Ronaldo’s view, on supporting Al-Hilal more heavily.
It was reported that the 40-year-old Ronaldo blocked Karim Benzema’s transfer to Al-Hilal, but the French international ultimately joined the Blue Wave in the final hours of the transfer window.
Waleed Al-Faraj commented on the events of the final day of the Saudi transfer window, saying, “Imagine a classic match between Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli that could decide the league title, but everyone is focused on the winter transfer window, which was the most intense transfer window in the league’s history, due to the stories and events that transpired.”
He added, “Ronaldo didn’t participate in the Riyadh match, supposedly because Al-Nassr wasn’t supported, even though many consider it to have been the strongest signing in the last summer transfer window.”
He continued, “Every player must know his place. You can’t build the Saudi league project around one player; that’s an inappropriate idea, no matter how valuable that player is.”
Al-Faraj continued his attack on Ronaldo, saying, “No star player signed in the Saudi league should be treated as if they’ll be lost without him. They all came with salaries they could only dream of. No one came out of love or passion; they all came for their own benefit. As long as they receive high salaries, there must be some professionalism.”
Al-Faraj pointed out that the Benzema-Al-Hilal deal fell through not because of Ronaldo, but because Al-Ittihad presented the 37-year-old with an improved offer, which he rejected, remaining firm in his stated position of leaving the club.
