Cristiano Ronaldo Sits Out Al-Nassr Clash Amid Transfer Frustrations

Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from Al-Nassr’s squad in Monday’s Saudi Pro League clash against Al-Riyadh has sent shockwaves through Saudi football, sparking intense speculation about his future and the club’s direction. The 40-year-old superstar, who has been the face of Al-Nassr since his sensational move from Manchester United in 2022, was conspicuously missing from the team sheet—a decision that multiple sources confirm was Ronaldo’s own, taken in protest against the club’s management and the perceived lack of ambition from its owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The timing couldn’t have been more dramatic. Al-Nassr, locked in a fierce title race, managed to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh thanks to a decisive strike from Sadio Mane. That win nudged them within a single point of league leaders Al-Hilal, who themselves had only managed a goalless draw against Al-Ahli. Yet, the result was almost overshadowed by the Ronaldo saga unfolding behind the scenes.

Ronaldo’s frustration has been building for months, insiders say, fueled by what he sees as insufficient investment in the Al-Nassr squad compared to the lavish spending at other PIF-owned clubs. Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad have all splashed the cash since the PIF’s 2023 takeover, bringing in marquee names like Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves, and most recently, Karim Benzema. Al-Nassr, meanwhile, have been relatively quiet—especially in the January transfer window, where their only addition was Iraq under-23 midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem, who is still awaiting his debut.

According to ESPN, Ronaldo’s decision to sit out Monday’s match was not due to injury or any falling out with head coach Jorge Jesus. Instead, it was a calculated protest. "He’s just competitive and doesn’t like other clubs getting stronger," a source close to the situation told BBC Sport. CBS Sports added that Ronaldo’s actions have the backing of some senior Al-Nassr figures, who share his frustration with the complications arising from a single organization owning four of the league’s top clubs.

Portuguese outlet A Bola first reported that Ronaldo was refusing to play, citing his growing dissatisfaction with the club’s direction under PIF. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who signed a lucrative new two-year extension in June 2025, now has 18 months remaining on his contract. Despite being the league’s top scorer in the 2024-25 season with 25 goals and having notched an astonishing 91 goals in 95 Saudi Pro League matches since 2023, Ronaldo’s trophy cabinet at Al-Nassr remains surprisingly sparse. His sole piece of silverware is the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup—a far cry from the Champions League glories and domestic titles he collected in Europe.

Al-Nassr’s lack of recent success has only added to the Portuguese star’s discontent. The club finished third last season, 13 points adrift of champions Al-Ittihad, and suffered heartbreak in the King’s Cup final, losing to Al-Hilal on penalties. Their Asian ambitions also took a hit with a semi-final exit in the Asian Champions League Elite and subsequent relegation to the second-tier Asian Champions League Two.

Meanwhile, the transfer deadline day brought further disappointment for Ronaldo. As Al-Nassr scrambled to reinforce their squad in the final hours, their title rivals Al-Hilal pulled off a coup by signing Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad. The French striker, and former Real Madrid teammate of Ronaldo, had been training alone after a contract dispute with Al-Ittihad but sealed his move to Al-Hilal late on Monday. This high-profile addition to an already star-studded Al-Hilal squad reportedly did not sit well with Ronaldo, who had previously been linked with a loan move to the same club. According to CBS Sports, the Benzema transfer was a major source of frustration for the Portuguese forward.

Al-Nassr’s struggles in the transfer market have been compounded by new financial regulations announced by the Ministry of Sport in July 2025, which require Saudi clubs to adopt a more sustainable approach. Gone are the days of limitless spending—Saudi clubs spent over £1.1bn since 2023, but the purse strings have tightened considerably. Al-Nassr’s summer signings included Joao Felix from Chelsea and Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich, but the January window saw little movement, especially compared to Al-Hilal’s flurry of activity, which included the arrivals of Mohamed Kader Meite and Pablo Mari.

Manager Jorge Jesus was candid about the club’s predicament. "I spoke about the winter period. We don’t have any openings for foreign players, and the financial situation at Al-Nassr is not good and doesn’t allow it—I hope that one or two, maybe three players can join us," Jesus told reporters, echoing the frustration felt by Ronaldo and the fanbase alike.

The broader context is equally important. Saudi Arabia’s sports investment, once seemingly bottomless, is showing signs of restraint. The 2029 Asian Winter Games, slated for the futuristic Neom city, have been postponed indefinitely amid construction delays and cost overruns. The Vision 2030 program, designed to diversify the kingdom’s oil-dependent economy, has been scaled back, and this belt-tightening is now evident in the Saudi Pro League’s transfer activity.

Despite the off-field drama, Ronaldo’s individual performances have remained exceptional. He scored his 17th goal of the current season against Al-Kholood, bringing his career tally to 961—just 39 shy of his much-publicized goal to reach 1,000. "You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number [1,000 goals] that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries," Ronaldo declared at the Globe Soccer Awards in December, where he was named Best Middle East Player.

As the dust settles on a turbulent deadline day, questions abound about what comes next for Ronaldo and Al-Nassr. Will the club’s hierarchy heed his call for greater ambition, or will this standoff mark the beginning of the end for one of football’s most storied careers? For now, Ronaldo remains contracted until June 2027, and despite rumors and frustrations, there’s no concrete indication he’ll seek an early exit. But with the title race heating up and Al-Nassr still within touching distance of their rivals, the coming weeks promise high drama both on and off the pitch.

One thing’s for sure—when Cristiano Ronaldo makes a move, the whole footballing world takes notice. As Al-Nassr’s star man weighs his next steps, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see whether this latest twist galvanizes the club or deepens the rift between superstar and ownership.