The future of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr is facing significant uncertainty following a public declaration from the Saudi Pro League regarding player influence.
The 41-year-old Portuguese icon was notably absent from the squad during Monday’s fixture against Al-Riyadh.
This absence fueled reports from Portugal suggesting that Ronaldo had refused to take the pitch due to increasing dissatisfaction with the club’s management.
While he later shared a photo of himself in training, it remains unclear if he will participate in the upcoming match against Al-Ittihad.
According to reports from the BBC on Friday, February 6, 2026, Ronaldo’s frustration reportedly intensified after Karim Benzema’s recent high-profile transfer from Al-Ittihad to league-topping Al-Hilal.
Benzema, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid colleague, made a sensational debut for his new club by netting a hat-trick in a dominant 6-0 victory over Al-Okhdood.
Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are under the control of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
However, league officials were quick to shut down rumors that any single player could dictate league-wide transfer movements.
In an official statement to BBC Sport, a Saudi Pro League spokesperson clarified: “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules. Clubs have their own boards, their own executives, and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending, and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance.”
While the spokesperson recognized Ronaldo’s impact since 2022, noting that “Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition,” they firmly stated: “But no individual, however significant, determines decisions beyond their own club.”
Ronaldo transitioned to the Saudi side after his departure from Manchester United during the 2021-22 season, securing a record-breaking annual salary of approximately £177m. Although he has maintained a high scoring rate, his trophy cabinet at Al-Nassr currently only includes the Arab Club Champions Cup.
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