“No individual is bigger than a club”: Saudi Pro League warns Cristiano Ronaldo amid Al-Nassr exit rumors

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the center of fresh controversy after his off-field actions reportedly led to his omission from Al-Nassr’s squad for their Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Riyadh, raising questions about his future and influence within the club.

According to reports, Ronaldo refused to make himself available for selection after growing increasingly frustrated with Al-Nassr’s perceived lack of activity in the transfer market. The Portuguese icon is also understood to be dissatisfied with the club’s overall direction under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which oversees several teams competing in the league. Sources close to the situation suggest the 41-year-old forward was particularly incensed by the high-profile move of former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to league leaders Al-Hilal earlier this week—a transfer that further fueled his concerns about Al-Nassr’s ambition and competitiveness.

Ronaldo’s stance, however, has not been well received by Saudi Pro League authorities. League officials moved swiftly to address the situation, issuing a firm response that emphasized the autonomy of clubs and the principle that no single individual outweighs the collective structure of the competition.

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“The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules. Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions in recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. That framework applies equally across the league,” a league spokesperson said in a statement.

“Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club.

Saudi Arabian football officials are losing patience with Cristiano Ronaldo as he considers extending his strike.

Ronaldo wants to continue his one-man protest by missing a second game even though he is fully fit and training with his team-mates. pic.twitter.com/HBk0x3RoKn

— Naija Daily (@princeolu181) February 6, 2026

“Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters. The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended.

“The focus remains on football – on the pitch, where it belongs – and on maintaining a credible, competitive competition for players and fans,” the statement concluded.

Ronaldo’s relationship with Saudi football has been under intense scrutiny since his shock move to Al-Nassr in late 2022, following his departure from Manchester United. The transfer sent shockwaves through the global game and marked a turning point for the Saudi Pro League, with Ronaldo becoming the highest-paid footballer in history on an annual salary reported to be worth €177 million.

His arrival dramatically elevated the league’s global profile and commercial appeal, and on the pitch, Ronaldo has largely delivered. He signed a new two-year contract with Al-Nassr in June 2025, reaffirming his commitment to the club despite mounting frustrations. Since joining, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored a remarkable 117 goals in 133 appearances across all competitions, consistently proving his enduring quality even in the latter stages of his career.

However, team success has proven elusive. Despite his prolific scoring record, Ronaldo has yet to lift the Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr. The club’s only major silverware during his tenure remains the Arab Club Champions Cup, a trophy won early in his time in Saudi Arabia.

Individually, Ronaldo has continued to dominate. He claimed the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot in consecutive seasons—2023–24 and 2024–25—underlining his status as one of the league’s most lethal finishers. Yet the absence of a league championship has only intensified scrutiny of Al-Nassr’s long-term strategy and Ronaldo’s growing impatience with the club’s trajectory.

As the season unfolds, attention will remain firmly fixed on how Al-Nassr, the league, and Ronaldo himself navigate this latest standoff—one that tests the balance between star power and institutional authority in Saudi football’s evolving landscape.

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