Cristiano Ronaldo has been warned by the Saudi Pro League over his protest regarding Al Nassr’s transfer spending.
The Portuguese superstar, who turned 41 on Thursday, is unhappy with Al Nassr’s inactivity during the January transfer window. Sources told ESPN that Ronaldo plans to boycott a second consecutive league game after not receiving assurance that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) would intervene in the club’s management.
Al Nassr, however, are expecting Ronaldo to feature Friday against Al Ittihad, sources said, following his absence from Monday’s match against Al Riyadh.
Ronaldo’s frustration stems from the PIF failing to invest in Al Nassr while rivals Al Hilal also 75% PIF-owned signed his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad.
The Saudi Pro League issued a statement Thursday emphasising club independence in financial decisions.
“The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: Every club operates independently under the same rules,” a league spokesperson said.
“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.”
Transfer funds come not from the PIF but from a centrally managed player acquisition fund, distributed annually based on club size. Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli are believed to have received similar allocations before last year’s summer transfer window.
Al Nassr spent heavily during that window, signing João Félix and Kingsley Coman while re-signing Ronaldo until June 2027, which used much of their allocated funds until the next tranche in 2026. Al Hilal’s signing of Benzema was financed separately by a private investor, an option Al Nassr could have explored but did not.
Despite the uncertainty over his availability for Friday’s match, Al Nassr celebrated Ronaldo’s 41st birthday on X, posting:
“The legend only grows. Your commitment, mentality, and leadership drive our dreams forward. Happy Birthday @Cristiano!”
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