Ronaldo Stands Firm on Boycott, Signals Exit from Al Nassr

Tensions continue to simmer in the Saudi Pro League over Cristiano Ronaldo’s participation, as the Portuguese superstar remains resolute in boycotting matches until he receives concrete assurances regarding changes in Al Nassr’s management.

Ronaldo’s stance reportedly stems from his dissatisfaction with the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) influence over the club. Without clear guarantees from the PIF regarding management reforms, he has now refused to play in consecutive league fixtures, signalling deepening frustration.

According to ESPN, if the PIF does not provide formal assurances in the coming weeks, Ronaldo could formally request a transfer at the end of the current season in June.

The PIF, which controls Saudi Arabia’s four major clubs—Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli—has faced criticism from Ronaldo for allegedly prioritising financial support to rival clubs, particularly Al Hilal, over Al Nassr.

Ronaldo has also reportedly intervened to prevent Karim Benzema from moving from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal, fearing that such a transfer would further tilt the competitive balance in favour of Al Hilal and jeopardise Al Nassr’s title aspirations.

As part of his protest, Ronaldo skipped Al Nassr’s 1–0 league victory against Al Riyadh on Monday, though the move failed to prevent Benzema from joining Al Hilal the same day.

While Ronaldo recently shared images of himself training on social media, he was notably absent from the official Al Nassr social media post covering training on Wednesday, highlighting the ongoing rift.

Another source of Ronaldo’s discontent is internal management reshuffling at Al Nassr. Last month, following a board meeting, Sporting Director Simao Coutinho and CEO Jose Semedo were stripped of significant powers, a move that reportedly angered Ronaldo. Budget cuts have further constrained the club’s ability to recruit top-tier talent, contrasting sharply with rival Al Hilal’s financial muscle, largely backed by Saudi Crown Prince Al Waleed bin Talal. All of Benzema’s transfers and other signings in the current window have reportedly been financed privately by Al Hilal’s benefactors.

Ronaldo has made it clear that his return to the field is contingent upon two key assurances: the reinstatement of management authority at Al Nassr and the prevention of future interference in transfer decisions.

Since joining Al Nassr in 2022, Ronaldo has yet to secure a major trophy. Last summer, he extended his contract until June 2027, with a release clause set at €50 million.

Al Nassr will face Al Ittihad on Friday, but whether Ronaldo will feature remains uncertain.

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