Before Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League match against local rivals Al-Riyadh on Monday, Cristiano Ronaldo is said to have gone on strike.
The 40-year-old celebrity, who makes £488,000 a day, is reportedly dissatisfied with the way Al-Nassr’s funds are handled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
According to Portuguese site A Bola, a source told the newspaper Ronaldo is irritated by the PIF’s handling of Al-Nassr compared to other clubs. Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli are the four Saudi Pro League teams that the PIF owns 75% of, and it has played a significant role in luring elite players from across the world.
Since Ronaldo’s 2023 move to Riyadh, talents like Karim Benzema, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Riyad Mahrez joined other Saudi clubs on hefty deals. Al-Nassr hasn’t gotten the same assistance in the transfer market, according to Ronaldo.
Only 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem was signed by Al-Nassr during the January transfer window, while Al-Hilal signed Spanish center-back Pablo Mari for £1.7 million, Rennes attacker Kader Meite for £26 million, and are in the closing stages of a £26 million move for Neom star Saimon Bouabre.
Jorge Jesus, the manager of Al-Nassr, has expressed disapproval of the financial gap, stating that the team “does not have the political power of Al-Hilal.” Al-Hilal requested that Jesus be suspended for six months to a year as a result of his remarks.
Ronaldo reiterated his objective of achieving 1,000 career goals in December, hinting at a return to Europe.
Speaking in Dubai, he stated, “My passion is high and I want to continue. It makes no difference where I play—in Europe or the Middle East.
“I always enjoy playing football and I want to keep going. If there are no injuries, I will definitely hit the goal total of 1000.
