Cristiano Ronaldo's absence from Al Nassr's lineup continues, as he missed his second consecutive game on Friday against Al Ittihad. This follows his absence from the match against Al Riyadh earlier in the week.
Ronaldo's initial absence was attributed to muscle discomfort during training. However, reports have since emerged suggesting a deeper conflict between the star player and the club's ownership. It is believed that Ronaldo is unhappy with the level of investment in Al Nassr by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), particularly in comparison to other PIF-owned clubs like Al Hilal. Al Hilal recently acquired Karim Benzema, a former teammate of Ronaldo's. In contrast, Al Nassr's only signing during the transfer window was Iraqi midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem.
This perceived disparity in investment has reportedly led to Ronaldo threatening to leave Al Nassr in the summer. Some reports even suggest a potential return to his former club, Sporting CP.
The Saudi Pro League has responded to the situation with a statement emphasizing the independence of each club within the league. The league asserted that all clubs operate under the same rules and that decisions regarding recruitment, spending, and strategy are made independently, within a framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. The statement, while not directly addressing Ronaldo, stressed that no individual player is bigger than the league.
Despite the turmoil surrounding Ronaldo's absence, Al Nassr has continued to perform, securing a 1-0 victory against Al Riyadh and a 2-0 win against Al-Ittihad. Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel scored in the match against Al-Ittihad.
Ronaldo's current contract with Al Nassr extends to June 2025, with a record salary. He has scored 17 goals in 18 matches this season and is approaching his 1,000th career goal. However, this disagreement has jeopardized his chance of reaching that milestone.
The situation remains unpredictable, with sources close to Al Nassr stating that it is "totally impossible to predict" what will happen next with Ronaldo.