Cristiano Ronaldo went on strike after Al-Nassr had a very quiet January transfer window, while their Saudi Pro League title rivals Al-Hilal splashed the cash to sign Karim Benzema
Cristiano Ronaldo was reportedly rattled by a message from Karim Benzema during his strike at Al-Nassr. Ronaldo refused to play for Al-Nassr in protest at a variety of issues at the Saudi Pro League side – and his former team-mate gloating did not go down well.
The 41-year-old sat out of matches against Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh as a way of making his feelings clear to Al-Nassr, the Pro League and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). He has been furious over a lack of transfer activity at the club, as well as the diminished influence of his allies, chief executive Jose Semedo and the director of football Simão Coutinho.
Ronaldo has now ended his strike following showdown talks which have seen Semedo and Simao handed back power. He is therefore expected to return to the starting line-up when Al-Nassr play Al-Fateh on the weekend.
But The Telegraph reports that Ronaldo remains annoyed by the lack of business done by Al-Nassr in the January transfer window, especially given the obvious contrast with rival clubs. Benzema left Al-Ittihad for Al-Hilal in the window, having been left insulted by the new contract on offer.
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Ronaldo’s mood wasn’t helped by a gloating message from his former Real Madrid team-mate, who reportedly boasted about getting a pay rise and joining the club who will win the Saudi Pro League this season. Benzema swapped seventh-place Al-Ittihad for Al-Hilal, who are one point clear of Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr at the top of the league.
Al-Hilal bolstered their squad by signing Benzema, Rennes star Mohamed Meite, former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari from Fiorentina, as well as Saudi internationals in Murad Al Hawsawi and Sultan Mandash. By contrast, Al-Nassr had a quiet window, despite also being owned by PIF.
Ronaldo’s short-term future with Al-Nassr is now not in question, but the tensions have not gone away and a summer transfer remains a possibility. The ex-Manchester United star has a release clause in his contract which will allow him to leave for £43million, with European and MLS clubs reportedly interested in signing him.
Meanwhile, Al-Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus has made it clear that he won’t sign a new contract until he knows what Ronaldo is planning to do, according to Al-Riyadiyah. Jesus will only commit to the club if Ronaldo is staying to fulfil his contract until 2027.
Ronaldo is by far the biggest star in the Saudi Pro League and earns around £488,000 per day – the equivalent of £180m a year – from Al-Nassr. His strike forced the Saudi football authorities to issue a statement explaining how the PIF-owned clubs operate.
A spokesperson said: “Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance.
“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.
“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.”
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date: 2026-02-10 16:40:00