Saudi football officials are losing patience with Cristiano Ronaldo as he considers extending his strike.
Ronaldo’s protests have tarnished the image of the Saudi Professional League and the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. The SPL is trying to ensure he can play on Friday by giving him a public warning.
Ronaldo wants to continue his one-man protest by missing the second match, despite being fit and training with his teammates.
He still feels his club Al Nasr is not as financially supported as title rivals Al Hilal.
Both clubs are majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The forward believed Al Hilal were being given preferential treatment and was particularly upset that they strengthened their squad by bringing in players such as Karim Benzema during the January period.
Benzema scored a hat-trick on his debut on Thursday as Al Hilal defeated Al Ahdud 6-0 and increased their lead over third-placed Al Nasr to four points in the SPL.
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Highlights of the match between Al Ahdud and Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League
Ronaldo posted a photo of himself training on X on Wednesday and was expected to feature in Friday’s match against Al Ittihad.
Officials hope he has made a strong case for himself and believe Friday’s game is too big for him to miss, urging him to return to the pitch.
“Fans in Saudi Arabia and around the world want to see Cristiano back to playing and competing as soon as possible. The support he has received since arriving in Saudi Arabia continues and he still needs everything to play,” the official said.
Officials are surprised he is unhappy despite reportedly earning £500,000 a day and hope he will play on Friday.
He has 18 months left on his contract but has a £43m (€50m) summer release clause, despite turning 41 on Thursday.
Al Nasr could reach the top of the Saudi Professional League on Friday.
Ronaldo missed Monday’s match against Al Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League, but Sky Sports News reported that Ronaldo was unhappy with the club’s management.
He believes Al Nasr does not receive the same financial support as the other three clubs owned by Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF: Al Hilal, Al Ahly and Al Ittihad.
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Highlights of the match between Al Riyadh and Al Nasr in the Saudi Pro League
Ronaldo is angry that Al Hilal acquired Benzema from Al Ittihad, but young Iraqi midfielder Haider Abdulkareem was the only addition to Al Nasr’s squad in the January window. He wanted the club to become more ambitious during the period, as they want to win the Saudi title for the first time.
He feels the PIF is giving preferential treatment to other clubs, but football in Saudi Arabia has opened up and clubs are now being bought out by investors.
Benzema’s move to Al Hilal was not funded by the league or the PIF, but by Saudi billionaire private investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. There is nothing stopping Al Nasr from signing more players with the support of private investors.
From Saudi Arabia’s point of view, Ronaldo maintains full support and nothing has changed.
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Ronaldo scores a goal for Al Nasr in the Saudi Pro League match at Al Khorod
It is surprising that he is so dissatisfied as he has been involved with the club at every level with his team and has experienced all the transfer and investment opportunities.
SPL believes that the league is a fair fight and that there is still everything left in this season. The funding provided by the league is clear and fair across all PIF clubs.
If Al Nasr were inactive in January, it’s because they have already spent £100m this season.
Financial regulations and league funding through the Player Acquisition Center of Excellence are designed to maintain integrity and ensure leagues and clubs are sustainable and competitive.
‘Individuals do not make decisions outside the club’ – SPL hits back at Ronaldo
Ronaldo may be the face of the SPL, but the league issued a statement on Thursday night reaffirming that he has no say in what happens at clubs other than his own, hitting back at the Portuguese star.
“The Saudi Professional League is built on the simple principle that all clubs operate independently under the same rules,” a league spokesperson said.
“Clubs have their own boards, their own management teams and their own football leaders. Decisions about recruitment, spending and strategy are left to those clubs within a financial framework designed to ensure a balance between sustainability and competitiveness. That framework applies equally across the league.”
“Cristiano has been fully involved with Al Nasr since joining and has played a key role in the club’s growth and ambitions. Like any elite athlete, he wants to win. But no one, no matter how important, can make decisions beyond his own club.
“Recent transfer activity clearly shows that independence. One club strengthened in a certain way, another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions taken within the approved financial terms.”
“The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, there is a very strong competition for the title. This level of balance reflects that the system is working as intended.”
“The focus remains on football, on the pitch where it belongs, and on maintaining credible and competitive competition for players and fans.”
