Ronaldo standoff grows as Saudi league sends a warning

• The Saudi Pro League issued a blunt warning as uncertainty grows over Cristiano Ronaldo’s status at Al Nassr.
• Ronaldo was left out against Al Riyadh, with a Portuguese report claiming he refused to play amid frustration tied to PIF decisions and Karim Benzema’s move to Al Hilal.
• League officials are unsure if Ronaldo will feature against Al Ittihad on Friday, even after he posted a training photo.

The Saudi Pro League has warned Cristiano Ronaldo that “no individual, however significant, determines decisions beyond their own club” as doubts continue over his future at Al Nassr.

Ronaldo, 41, was left out of Al Nassr’s squad for Monday’s Saudi Pro League match against Al Riyadh.

Portuguese outlet A Bola reported Ronaldo refused to play after becoming dissatisfied with how the club was being run by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, known as PIF.

BBC Sport has been told Karim Benzema’s move earlier this week to league leaders Al Hilal from Al Ittihad was the principal reason for Ronaldo’s frustration at Al Nassr.

Benzema, 38, scored a hat trick on his debut for Al Hilal in a 6-0 win over Al Okhdood on Thursday.

Al Nassr and Al Hilal are among the clubs controlled by PIF, which also backs Newcastle United.

Ronaldo posted a picture of himself back in training on Wednesday, but BBC Sport understands Saudi Pro League officials are unsure if he will play against Al Ittihad on Friday.

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. That framework applies equally across the league.”

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United mid-season, becoming the best-paid player in football history with an annual salary of £177m. He has won the Arab Club Champions Cup with the club.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner signed a new two-year contract in June 2025. Before he agreed to that deal, there was speculation he might leave, with a loan move to Al Hilal among the options discussed publicly.

The Saudi Pro League spokesperson added: “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.

“Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters.”

Al Nassr’s only January signing was Iraq Under-23 midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem.

Al Hilal are unbeaten this season and lead the table on 50 points after 20 games. Al Nassr are third, four points back, with a game in hand.

The spokesperson said: “The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended.

“The focus remains on football, on the pitch, where it belongs, and on maintaining a credible, competitive competition for players and fans.”

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.

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