Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from the Al Nassr squad for a second successive game on Friday night, as his ongoing dispute with the Saudi Pro League continues to unfold. The Portugal captain, who turned 41 on Thursday, was left out of the line-up for the match against Al Ittihad, following his omission from Monday's victory over Al Riyadh.
Fan Support Amidst Absence
Despite Ronaldo's absence, fans at Al-Awwal Park demonstrated their solidarity with the star player. In the seventh minute of the game, supporters raised yellow signs featuring Ronaldo's name and his iconic number seven, a poignant tribute to the forward during his time away from the pitch.
Transfer Discontent at the Heart of the Issue
The root of Ronaldo's absence appears to be his reported unhappiness with Al Nassr's lack of activity in the January transfer window. Sources indicate that the veteran forward is upset by the club's failure to invest in new players, particularly as rivals Al Hilal strengthened their squad by signing his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, from Friday's opponents Al Ittihad.
Notably, both Al Nassr and Al Hilal are 75% majority-owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), yet their transfer strategies diverged significantly this winter. Al Hilal's acquisition of Benzema was financed separately by a private investor, an option that Al Nassr could have pursued but did not.
Saudi Pro League's Firm Stance
The Saudi Pro League has issued a clear warning regarding the situation, emphasising that no individual player holds sway over decisions beyond their own club. A league spokesperson stated on Thursday that the league operates on principles of independence and competitive balance.
"The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules," the spokesperson explained. "Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance."
The 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."
Financial Framework and Transfer Funds
Contrary to popular belief, transfer funds in the Saudi Pro League do not come directly from the PIF. Instead, they are managed through a player acquisition fund overseen centrally by the league. This fund provides annual allocations to clubs based on their size, with the country's big four—Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli—believed to have received roughly equal amounts before the summer transfer window opened last year.
Al Nassr's significant spending in that summer window, which included signing Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman, as well as renewing Ronaldo's contract until June 2027, is understood to have depleted much of their player acquisition funds. The club will not receive another tranche of cash until before the 2026 summer window opens.
Competitive Landscape and Future Implications
The Saudi Pro League spokesperson highlighted the current competitiveness of the league, noting that only a few points separate the top four teams, keeping the title race very much alive. "That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended," they said, adding that the focus remains on football on the pitch.
As Ronaldo's absence extends, questions linger about how this dispute will affect Al Nassr's performance and the player's future with the club. With the team navigating a tight title race and Ronaldo's contract running until 2027, resolving this transfer-related discontent will be crucial for both parties moving forward.
