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Cristiano Ronaldo is considering his future in Saudi Arabia amid concerns over the financial support Al Nasr receive compared to other clubs.
Ronaldo missed Monday’s Saudi Professional League win over Riyadh sky sports news The star was told he was unhappy with the running of the club.
The 40-year-old believes Al Nassr do not receive the same financial support as the other three clubs – Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad – owned by Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF.
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Highlights from the Saudi Professional League match between Al-Riyadh and Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo was furious at Al Hilal signing Karim Benzema from the Etihad, with the only addition to Al Nasr’s squad in the January transfer window being young Iraqi midfielder Haider Abdulkarim.
Al Hilal are one point ahead of Al Nasr in the Saudi Professional League and Ronaldo wants his club to be more ambitious during the transfer window as he looks to win the Saudi title for the first time.
Although he believes the PIF is giving preferential treatment to other clubs, Saudi Arabian football has opened up and clubs are now being bought out by investors.
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Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solkhkol discusses why Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to be on strike at Al Nasr Stadium, with the Portuguese striker not included in the squad for Monday’s game against Al Riyadh.
Benzema’s move to Al Hilal was not funded by the league or the PIF, but by private billionaire Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. There is nothing stopping Al Nasr from signing more players with the backing of private investors.
Senior Saudi Arabian officials have urged Ronaldo to end his strike and resume playing for the club.
They are surprised he is not happy – despite earning a reported £500,000 a day – and want him to face the Etihad on Friday.
He has 18 months left on his contract but has a £43m (€50m) summer release clause – even though he turns 41 on Thursday.
From the Saudi perspective, Ronaldo still has their full support and nothing has changed.
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Cristiano Ronaldo scores for Al Nasr during a Saudi Professional League match in Al Kholud.
He and his team are involved at every level of the club and they go through all the transfer and investment opportunities, so it’s surprising that he is so unhappy.
The SPL believes their league is a fair fight and there are still plenty of games to play this season. The funding provided by the league is clear and fair to all PIF clubs.
If Al Nassr are inactive in January it is because they have already spent £100m this season.
Financial regulations and league funding through the Player Recruitment Center of Excellence are designed to maintain integrity and ensure the league and clubs are sustainable and competitive.
All eyes are now on Ronaldo to see if he will feature against the Etihad on Friday.
