The friction between Cristiano Ronaldo and the Al-Nassr hierarchy appears to be intensifying, with the legendary forward reportedly prepared to sit out a second straight Saudi Pro League match. The 40-year-old’s continued absence is linked to a lack of assurances from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) concerning a total overhaul of the club’s administrative structure. According to a report by ESPN, the stalemate has reached a critical point; if the requested management changes are not implemented shortly, the Portuguese icon intends to formally request a transfer away from the Riyadh-based club this coming June.
This ongoing protest began earlier this week when the national team captain declined to participate in Monday’s narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh. While Ronaldo has remained active on the training pitch and even shared a personal update on his social media channels this Wednesday, his presence was conspicuously missing from the club’s official digital media. Al-Nassr’s latest training gallery on X featured several first-team players and manager Jorge Jesus, but notably excluded any imagery of their star striker, further fueling rumors of a deepening divide.
The timing of this internal crisis is particularly poorly suited for the club, as they prepare for a high-profile domestic encounter against Al-Ittihad this Friday. Ronaldo’s contract, which was previously seen as a long-term commitment to the Saudi project, now seems vulnerable to the player’s dissatisfaction with the competitive and organizational direction of the “Knights of Najd.” As the PIF continues to manage the league’s top assets, all eyes are on whether a compromise can be reached before the Friday night kickoff or if the relationship has reached an irreparable breaking point.
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