Cristiano Ronaldo continues his rebellion against Saudi League officials, deciding not to participate in the Al-Nassr vs. Al-Ittihad match on Friday, in protest against how things were handled during the recent winter transfer window.
The Portuguese star also missed the previous Riyadh match and was absent from group training for a period. He returned on Wednesday, and there was optimism that the crisis was over and that the 40-year-old would play for his club again.
However, Ronaldo was again excluded from the Al-Ittihad match, at his own request. Reports then circulated about the player feeling “betrayed” by the way the Saudi Public Investment Fund handled Al-Hilal’s transfer to Al-Nassr in January, and that he is seriously considering leaving next summer, if not sooner.
The Daily Mail quoted a high-ranking Saudi official responding that Al-Nassr was treated like any other club, and that no player, regardless of their value, is “above the Saudi League.”
The official stated, “Ronaldo’s claims are incorrect. The Saudi Professional League is based on a simple principle: each club operates independently, according to the same rules.”
He added, “Each club has its own board of directors, executive management, and independent football leadership. Decisions regarding contracts, spending, and strategy are made by these clubs within a financial framework aimed at sustainability and competitive balance. This framework is applied equally to everyone.”
He continued, “Cristiano has been fully involved with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played a significant role in the club’s growth and ambitions. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. However, no individual—no matter how important—can make decisions that go beyond his club.”
He concluded, “Fans in Saudi Arabia and around the world want to see Cristiano return to playing and competing as soon as possible. Anything is still possible.”
