Cristiano Ronaldo will be sidelined for a second consecutive match with Al Nassr due to his ongoing conflict with the Saudi Pro League.
The 41-year-old missed Friday’s match against Al Ittihad after not participating in Monday’s victory over Al Riyadh as well.
According to sources cited by ESPN, Ronaldo intended to boycott Friday’s game due to a lack of assurance from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) regarding changes in the management of the club.
Nevertheless, sources indicated that Al Nassr expected Ronaldo to participate in the match.
ESPN has reported that Ronaldo’s absence on Monday was linked to his dissatisfaction with the PIF’s support of club transfers.
Ronaldo’s rivals, Al Hilal, which is also 75% owned by the PIF, recently acquired Karim Benzema, his former Real Madrid teammate, from Al Ittihad during the January transfer window.
On Thursday, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement warning Ronaldo that no player has the authority to influence decisions beyond their own team.
The league emphasized, “The Saudi Pro League functions under a clear principle: Each club operates independently under the same regulations.”
“Each club has its own board, executives, and football leadership. Decisions regarding recruitment, spending, and strategy are made by the clubs within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive parity. This framework is applied consistently throughout the league.”
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The statement further noted that “Cristiano has been deeply involved with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played a crucial role in the club’s growth and aspirations. Like any top competitor, he desires to win. However, no single individual—regardless of their significance—can dictate decisions that go beyond their own club.”
“Recent transfer activities illustrate this independence. One club has strengthened its squad in a certain manner, while another opted for a different strategy. These decisions were made by the respective clubs, adhering to approved financial parameters.”
“The league’s competitiveness speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four teams, the title race remains very much alive. This balance reflects a system that is functioning as intended.”
The Saudi Pro League’s statement concluded with a focus on maintaining a credible and competitive environment for players and fans, emphasizing that the attention should remain on the sport itself.
It is understood that transfer funds do not come directly from the PIF, but rather from a player acquisition fund that the Saudi Pro League oversees. This fund allocates resources to clubs annually based on their size, with the nation’s major teams—Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli—reportedly receiving similar amounts prior to the previous summer transfer window.
ESPN’s Bruno Andrade, Julien Laurens, and PA contributed to this report.