Cristiano Ronaldo’s tenure in Saudi Arabia is coming into an unprecedented chapter. The 41-year-old famous person, who joined Al-Nassr in early 2023, has discovered himself on the middle of a rising controversy, one that would see him going through potential disciplinary motion. His current absence from consecutive matches has despatched shockwaves by way of the Saudi Professional League.
On Monday, he skipped Al-Nassr’s 1-0 win towards Al-Riyadh, and simply days later, he was lacking once more as his group triumphed 2-0 over Al-Ittihad due to targets from Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel. In response to Portuguese every day A Bola, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has taken this stand on account of unpaid salaries—a staggering sum reportedly slightly below $23.6 million monthly, totaling over $236 million per season.
“Cristiano has realized that there was no change within the perspective in direction of him from the PIF fund… a lot in order that, along with the dearth of funding within the switch market, there proceed to be main delays within the cost of salaries to the membership’s gamers, employees and staff,” revealed A Bola. The striker reportedly acknowledged he would have performed had his again wages been obtained, highlighting a uncommon defiance from a participant usually seen as supremely skilled.
The Saudi Professional League seems able to facilitate Ronaldo’s departure this summer season, regardless of his international stature. Numerous studies from England recommend that league officers are contemplating bringing in new stars like Mohamed Salah or Bruno Fernandes, signaling a strategic shift aimed toward sustaining the league’s worldwide attraction with gamers nonetheless on the peak of their careers.
Mohamed Salah (L) of Liverpool, Cristiano Ronaldo (M) of Al Nassr, and Vinicius Junior (R) of Actual Madrid.
“The Saudi Professional League is structured round a easy precept: each membership operates independently below the identical guidelines… No particular person – nevertheless vital – determines selections past their very own membership,” a league spokesperson instructed BBC Sport. This assertion underscores that even somebody of the Portuguese’s stature can’t dictate recruitment or monetary selections past Al-Nassr’s administration.
Behind the scenes: Rivalries and transfers
Ronaldo’s frustrations are compounded by the league’s ongoing aggressive reshaping. Al-Hilal, additionally owned by the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF), just lately acquired Karim Benzema, Ronaldo’s former Actual Madrid teammate, who marked his debut with a sensational hat-trick. In the meantime, Al-Nassr’s current switch exercise has been criticized as inadequate, particularly in comparison with rivals who’ve spent closely to strengthen their squads.
“Latest switch exercise demonstrates that independence clearly. One membership strengthened in a specific approach. One other selected a unique strategy. These have been membership selections, taken inside accredited monetary parameters,” the Saudi Professional League added.
Regardless of his absence, Al-Nassr has received back-to-back matches, closing the hole with Al-Hilal to only a single level within the title race. Ronaldo himself has been prolific this season, scoring 17 league targets in 18 matches, nonetheless chasing the historic milestone of 1,000 senior profession targets, presently sitting on 961.
The sanctions query
Whereas Ronaldo’s protest facilities on funds and membership administration, his absence with out a medical or technical justification might result in formal sanctions. London-based Arabic newspaper, Asharq Al-Awsat, studies that continued refusal to play may set off disciplinary measures, together with monetary deductions or fines. This case places the legendary ahead in a fragile place: balancing skilled ideas, private monetary expectations, and the scrutiny of a complete league.
