Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from Al Nassr's AFC Champions League Two match against Arkadag in Turkmenistan, reportedly due to frustration over the club's January transfer activity. The 41-year-old Portugal captain has now missed two Saudi Pro League games, against Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad.
Fans at Al-Awwal Park on Friday showed solidarity by raising yellow signs with Ronaldo's name and number seven in the seventh minute. Despite his exclusion from the last-16 first leg line-up, Al Nassr's social media on Wednesday morning showed him training with teammates in Riyadh.
Ronaldo is said to be unhappy with the Saudi Public Investment Fund for failing to invest in the team during the winter window, while rivals Al Hilal—also 75 per cent majority-owned by the PIF—brought in his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad. The Saudi Pro League has warned Ronaldo that 'no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club'.
