Cristiano Ronaldo’s future in Saudi Arabia is under a cloud of uncertainty after he was omitted from Al-Nassr’s squad for Monday’s fixture against Al-Riyadh.
Reports from Portuguese outlet A Bola suggest the 40-year-old is refusing to play, citing frustration with the club’s management and the league’s shifting power dynamics.
Ronaldo is reportedly “frustrated” by rivals Al-Hilal signing his former teammate Karim Benzema. While Al-Nassr has remained quiet in the January window, their rivals continue to strengthen.
Despite scoring 961 career goals and being the league’s top scorer, Ronaldo has only won the Arab Club Champions Cup since joining in 2022. Al-Nassr currently trails behind Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli.
As Saudi Arabia moves toward a more “frugal” financial model for its clubs, Ronaldo appears dissatisfied with Al-Nassr’s inability to keep pace with the spending of other PIF-backed teams.
Ronaldo, who earns £177m a year, signed a contract extension through 2027 last June. However, this latest standoff echoes his high-profile exit from Manchester United, leaving fans wondering if his time in Riyadh is nearing a bitter end.
