Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr has been thrown into doubt after the Saudi Pro League publicly stressed that no player, regardless of stature, can influence decisions beyond their own club.
The 41-year-old Portugal forward was left out of Al-Nassr’s squad for Monday’s league match against Al-Riyadh, prompting reports in Portugal that he had refused to play amid growing frustration with how the club is being run.
Ronaldo later posted a picture of himself back in training, but uncertainty remains over whether he will feature in Friday’s clash with Al-Ittihad.
As reported by BBC on Friday, Ronaldo’s dissatisfaction was allegedly fuelled primarily by Karim Benzema’s move earlier this week from Al-Ittihad to league leaders Al-Hilal.
Benzema, a former Real Madrid team-mate of Ronaldo, made an immediate impact by scoring a hat-trick on his debut in a 6-0 win over Al-Okhdood.
Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are controlled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has overseen the rapid expansion and global profile of the Saudi Pro League.
However, league officials moved quickly to dismiss any suggestion that high-profile individuals could shape recruitment across clubs.
In a statement issued to BBC Sport, a Saudi Pro League spokesperson said: “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.”
The spokesperson acknowledged Ronaldo’s importance since his arrival in 2022, adding: “Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win.
“But no individual, however significant, determines decisions beyond their own club.”
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United midway through the 2021-22 season, becoming the highest-paid player in football history on a reported annual salary of £177m.
Despite his prolific scoring record, his only major silverware with the club has been the Arab Club Champions Cup.
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