Cristiano Ronaldo, a star player for Al Nassr, plans to continue his boycott by skipping a second consecutive league match due to the lack of solid assurances from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) about improvements in the club’s management, as reported by sources to ESPN.
According to ESPN sources, if there are no guaranteed changes in the near future, Ronaldo may seek to leave the club in June.
The Portuguese forward refused to participate in Monday’s 1-0 victory against Al Riyadh in protest. He argues that PIF is not investing sufficiently in Al Nassr, thereby giving an upper hand to rival team Al Hilal.
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) February 4, 2026
Reports indicate that Ronaldo attempted to prevent the transfer of French star Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal, viewing the move as inequitable and suggesting that PIF is aiming to facilitate Al Hilal’s title ambitions.
While Ronaldo trained with his team this week, he shared a photo on social media showing him in the club’s training kit. However, Al Nassr’s official X account only featured images of coach Jorge Jesus and other teammates during training.
Ronaldo has conveyed that his return to play is contingent upon the immediate restoration of Al Nassr’s management powers, and that interference like that seen in the latest transfer window does not occur again during the summer.
Al Nassr is set to compete against Al Ittihad on Friday.
Recently, Al Nassr’s sporting director Simão Coutinho and CEO José Semedo, both from Portugal, were suspended by the PIF, an action that upset Ronaldo and hampered the recruitment of key players for the team led by Jorge Jesus.
Additionally, the club has faced significant budget cuts.
On the contrary, Al Hilal received substantial financial support from Saudi prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud to enhance their roster.
Sources suggest that all of Al Hilal’s acquisitions in the current transfer window, including Benzema, were financed by Prince Al Waleed, who holds a 25% stake in the club, with PIF owning the remaining 75%.
Ronaldo, who has yet to secure a major title since joining Al Nassr in 2022, is reportedly very frustrated. Despite having offers to leave—primarily from teams in Europe and the United States—he prefers not to relocate at this juncture as it could disrupt his World Cup preparations.
The former Real Madrid star signed a contract extension with Al Nassr last summer, keeping him until June 2027 with a release clause of €50 million ($59 million).
The Saudi Pro League is keen on retaining its top ambassador.
According to sources, Al Nassr and PIF have pledged major summer investments for Ronaldo, with his Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United among the noteworthy names being considered for recruitment.
In response to the tensions, Al Hilal’s CEO Esteve Calzada expressed confusion over Al Nassr and Ronaldo’s grievances.
“You should ask them,” Calzada stated when queried about Ronaldo’s frustrations. “We’re concentrating on our own team. Ultimately, Al Nassr didn’t have a poor summer transfer window acquiring players like João Félix and Kingsley Coman.”
“There’s a rivalry and passion in this country that I never anticipated; I’ve witnessed people going wild over the [Benzema] signing.”
Benzema’s addition is a significant asset for Al Hilal, who currently holds a one-point lead over Al Nassr at the top of the Saudi Pro League standings.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner played a pivotal role in Al Ittihad’s triumphs in the Saudi Pro League and the King’s Cup last season.
“We required a striker, and a rare opportunity arose,” Calzada remarked. “A Ballon d’Or winner with extraordinary talent—the statistics speak for themselves. Additionally, he won’t need to acclimatize to our league. Everything aligned perfectly, and it became feasible. We’re absolutely thrilled.”
“I’m not surprised Benzema chose us, as ultimately Al Hilal is the most prominent and influential club not just in Saudi Arabia, but in all of Asia.”
“We are poised to compete for every title and are positioned well to achieve that this season.” Calzada further highlighted that Benzema’s influence extends beyond the field.
“We are already witnessing favorable results in the commercial and media sectors,” he added. “While it’s primarily a sporting acquisition, we’re working to secure the best possible return on our investment.”