Cristiano Ronaldo has broken his silence following widespread reports suggesting he refused to play for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr amid growing speculation over his future at the club.
The 40-year-old forward was notably absent from Al Nassr’s matchday squad during their 1–0 victory over Al Riyadh, a decision that immediately fueled rumors of unrest. Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano later clarified that Ronaldo’s omission was not related to injury or fitness concerns.
Reports of Internal Discontent
Earlier on Monday, Portuguese outlet A Bola reported that Ronaldo had expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as a lack of investment by the club, particularly during the ongoing winter transfer window. Despite Al Nassr being one of four Saudi Pro League clubs backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem has been the club’s only new signing so far.
According to BBC Sport, Ronaldo’s frustration was linked to developments involving former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema. The proposed transfer of Benzema from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal—both PIF-owned clubs—was cited as a key factor influencing Ronaldo’s stance.
Reports indicate that Benzema felt disrespected by Al Ittihad after being offered a contract extension heavily dependent on image rights, a structure that would have significantly reduced his guaranteed earnings. This disagreement ultimately facilitated his move to Al Hilal, which was finalized on Monday despite earlier uncertainty.
Ronaldo Signals Calm Through Social Media
In his first Instagram post since being left out of Al Nassr’s squad, Ronaldo appeared to downplay the controversy. He shared a photo of himself wearing Al Nassr training gear, accompanied by yellow and blue heart emojis—the club’s official colors—suggesting that tensions may have eased.
While some reports claimed Ronaldo had effectively gone on strike, Portuguese outlet Record countered those assertions, stating that the forward has maintained full attendance at training sessions throughout the period of speculation.
Contract and Future Plans
Ronaldo signed a two-year contract extension with Al Nassr last year, committing his future to the club until 2027. He has also confirmed that he plans to retire from international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
For now, Ronaldo’s social media activity and continued presence at training suggest that, despite recent tensions, his commitment to Al Nassr remains intact.
Source; Yen.com.gh
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