Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly gone on strike ahead of Al-Nassr’s upcoming match in the Saudi Pro League, expressing frustration over the management of the club’s finances by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Dispute Over Unequal Treatment
The 40-year-old forward, who holds the record as the highest-paid player in football history with a daily wage of £488,000, captains Al-Nassr. Sources indicate his dissatisfaction stems from the PIF’s handling of resources for Al-Nassr compared to rival clubs. Al-Nassr faces local opponents Al-Riyadh on Monday, but the team may lack their star player, who has netted 18 goals in 22 appearances this season.
The PIF maintains a 75 percent stake in four major Saudi Pro League teams: Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr. This fund has fueled the league’s recruitment of global talents on substantial contracts. Following Ronaldo’s high-profile transfer to Al-Nassr in 2023, players like Karim Benzema, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Riyad Mahrez joined Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli on lucrative deals.
Transfer Market Imbalances
Despite ongoing squad enhancements across these clubs, Ronaldo believes Al-Nassr receives unfair treatment in the transfer market. He argues that manager Jorge Jesus lacks sufficient reinforcements relative to competitors like Al-Hilal, led by Simone Inzaghi.
In the January transfer window, Al-Nassr secured only 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem. Meanwhile, Al-Hilal invested £1.7 million in Spanish defender Pablo Mari and £26 million for Rennes striker Kader Meite. The club also nears a £26 million agreement for Neom’s Saimon Bouabre.
Last month, Jesus highlighted this financial disparity, stating that Al-Nassr ‘does not have the political power of Al-Hilal,’ a club he once coached. His comments drew a response from Al-Hilal, who seek a suspension for Jesus ranging from six months to a year.
Ronaldo’s Ambitions and Future
Ronaldo has yet to secure a domestic trophy with Al-Nassr. In December, during an awards event in Dubai, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star discussed his drive to reach 1,000 career goals. He remarked, ‘My passion is high and I want to continue. It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe. I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going. I will reach the number (1000 goals) for sure, if no injuries.’
The Portuguese icon recently scored his 961st career goal in Al-Nassr’s 3-0 victory over Al-Kholood last Friday.
