Cristiano Ronaldo absent for second match with Al Nassr due to transfer conflict
Cristiano Ronaldo will be absent for a second consecutive match for Al Nassr due to his ongoing disagreement with the Saudi Pro League.
The 41-year-old did not appear in the lineup for Friday’s encounter against Al Ittihad, having also missed Monday’s win over Al Riyadh.
Sources informed ESPN that Ronaldo intended to boycott Friday’s match after failing to receive assurances that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) would implement changes regarding the management of the Saudi Pro League club.
Nevertheless, Al Nassr had anticipated Ronaldo’s participation in the game, according to sources.
ESPN reported that Ronaldo’s absence from Monday’s victory was linked to his dissatisfaction with the PIF’s support for his club during the transfer window.
Ronaldo observed that Al Hilal, his club’s rivals and also 75% owned by the PIF, acquired Karim Benzema, his former teammate from Real Madrid, from Al Ittihad during the January transfer window.
The Saudi Pro League released a statement on Thursday cautioning Ronaldo that no player could influence decisions beyond their own team.
“The Saudi Pro League operates on a straightforward principle: Each club functions independently under the same regulations,” the league stated.
“Clubs have their own boards, executives, and football leadership. Decisions regarding recruitment, expenditures, and strategy are made by those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. This framework is uniformly applied across the league.
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“Cristiano has been fully committed to Al Nassr since his arrival and has played a significant role in the club’s development and aspirations. Like any top competitor, he aims to win. However, no individual — regardless of their prominence — influences decisions beyond their own club.
“Recent transfer activities clearly illustrate that independence. One club enhanced its squad in a specific manner, while another opted for a different strategy. These were decisions made by the clubs, within approved financial limits.
“The competitiveness of the league is evident. With only a few points separating the top four teams, the title race remains very much alive. This level of balance reflects a system functioning as intended.
“The emphasis remains on football — on the field, where it belongs — and on sustaining a credible, competitive environment for players and fans.”
It is understood that transfer funds do not originate from the PIF but rather from a player acquisition fund.
This fund is managed centrally by the Saudi Pro League and allocates funding to clubs annually based on their size, with the country’s top four — Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli — all believed to have received approximately the same amount prior to the opening of the summer transfer window last year.
ESPN’s Bruno Andrade, Julien Laurens, and PA contributed to this report.
