Ronaldo’s Training Resumes as Controversy Surrounds Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training with Al-Nassr after missing the last two fixtures in protest of the club’s January transfer activities. His anticipated return is scheduled for the match against Al-Fateh next weekend. Although Al-Nassr is set to compete against Arkadag in the Asian Champions League midweek, Ronaldo will not participate in that match.

In support of Ronaldo, former teammate Toni Kroos, who played alongside him at Real Madrid, defended his actions, asserting that the Saudi Pro League would garner little attention without Ronaldo’s involvement. On his podcast, he remarked, “The Saudi league is a strange phenomenon. No one had heard of it before the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, and now they disrespect the man who put them on the world map. If Cristiano leaves tomorrow, this league will lose all its charm. Without Ronaldo, no one would watch the Saudi league.”

Ronaldo’s recent decision to withdraw from playing for Al-Nassr stemmed from the actions of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which oversees the four leading clubs in Saudi Arabia, allowing Karim Benzema to transfer from Ittihad to Al-Hilal, thereby strengthening Al-Nassr’s closest title competitors.

In response to Ronaldo’s protests, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement asserting that each club operates independently under the same regulations. The league emphasized that decisions regarding recruitment, spending, and strategy are made by individual clubs within a framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. The statement also noted, “Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. Yet, no individual—regardless of their significance—dictates decisions beyond their own club.”

Ronaldo currently earns approximately £400,000 per day and has been pivotal to Al-Nassr’s title challenge this season, scoring 17 goals in 18 league matches. Despite celebrating his 41st birthday recently, he has been encouraged to continue his career. Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos remarked, “Cristiano can’t stop, ever. If he decides to stop playing, I will call him and tell him not to. He represents a lot for clubs and the national team, and he inspires younger players. He should never stop playing football, even if it’s just with one leg or crawling.”

Carlos expressed confidence in Ronaldo’s ability to continue making history and breaking records, stating, “The only player to have scored 1,000 goals was Pele, but Cristiano could join that list. He’s happy and confident in the Saudi league, and I’m certain he’ll reach that milestone. He never gets injured and remains a role model for Portugal.”

Al-Nassr’s next match is against Al-Fateh, where Ronaldo is expected to return to the starting lineup.