Portuguese star reportedly preparing a second boycott of Al-Nassr league game
The Saudi Pro League has issued a warning to Cristiano Ronaldo that his protests against Al-Nassr will not be tolerated.
The Portuguese star boycotted a league game on Monday due to his dissatisfaction towards his club’s lack of activity in the transfer window.
Ronaldo is yet to win a major trophy with Al-Nassr, but watched helplessly as rivals Al-Hilal, the league’s most successful side, snap up former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.
Benzema then proceeded to score a hat-trick in his first game for the club. Reports emerging from Saudi Arabia are that Ronaldo plans to boycott a second successive game.
In a statement, a Saudi Pro League spokesperson said: “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: Every club operates independently under the same rules.
“Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. That framework applies equally across the league.
“Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club.
“Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters.
“The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended.
“The focus remains on football – on the pitch, where it belongs – and on maintaining a credible, competitive competition for players and fans.”
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2022 after falling out with Manchester United midseason. He has only managed to win one trophy with them, the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023, but it is not recognised as a major trophy.
