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Cristiano Ronaldo Standoff: Why Is Portugal Star Missing Another Al-Nassr Match?
| USA | sports

Cristiano Ronaldo Standoff: Why Is Portugal Star Missing Another Al-Nassr Match?

#Cristiano Ronaldo #Al-Nassr #Saudi Pro League #Karim Benzema #Public Investment Fund #Football Contract Dispute #Al-Hilal

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Cristiano Ronaldo missed his second consecutive Al-Nassr match against Al-Ittihad on Friday.
  • The veteran forward is reportedly on strike due to perceived favoritism shown to rivals Al-Hilal.
  • Ronaldo is frustrated by the PIF-backed transfer of Karim Benzema to Al-Nassr's direct competitors.
  • The Saudi Pro League issued a statement defending their competitive balance and club independence.

📖 Full Retelling

Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo remains absent from the Al-Nassr squad for their crucial match against Al-Ittihad on Friday night in Saudi Arabia, amid a deepening standoff with the club and the league's governing structures. The Portuguese superstar's exclusion follows his omission from the team's previous fixture against Al-Riyadh, signaling a significant rift between the 41-year-old forward and the Saudi football establishment. Reports suggest Ronaldo's frustration stems from the decision by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to facilitate the transfer of Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal, a move he perceives as a direct threat to Al-Nassr’s competitive parity and title aspirations. The conflict appears to be rooted in Ronaldo's belief that league officials have favored Al-Nassr's direct rivals, Al-Hilal, in the race for the Saudi Pro League championship. Since his high-profile arrival in 2023, the veteran striker has yet to secure a league title, and he reportedly feels that the redistribution of top-tier talent like Benzema demonstrates a lack of institutional support for his own pursuit of silverware. This sense of unequal treatment has led to a reported strike, with the player allegedly threatening to terminate his contract and leave the country entirely if his concerns are not addressed. In response to the growing controversy, the Saudi Pro League released a formal statement emphasizing that every club operates independently under a unified financial framework designed for sustainability. The league maintained that all recruitment and strategy decisions are handled by individual club boards rather than central planning, rejecting the notion of favoritism. Despite these official reassurances, the relationship remains strained, leaving the future of the world's most famous footballer in the Middle East uncertain as Al-Nassr continues to field a lineup featuring stars like Sadio Mane and Joao Felix in his absence.

🐦 Character Reactions (Tweets)

Football Fanatic

Ronaldo's strike in Saudi Arabia is the only one that's not scoring goals. #AlNassr #RonaldoStandoff

Sports Satirist

Ronaldo's contract termination threat: the only time he's ever been a defender. #SaudiProLeague #RonaldoDrama

League Laughs

Al-Nassr without Ronaldo is like a football match without fans. Quiet, empty, and missing the point. #RonaldoMissing #AlNassr

Football Philosopher

Ronaldo's standoff proves that even the greatest players need a referee to sort out their personal fouls. #RonaldoStandoff #FootballPhilosophy

💬 Character Dialogue

Джонні Сільверхенд: Well, well, well, look who's throwing a tantrum over a few million dollars and a shiny trophy. Ronaldo's strike is just another reminder that even the gods of the pitch are just pawns in the corporate game.
Еллі: Yeah, and let's not forget, the league's statement is just a fancy way of saying 'screw you, we do what we want.' Typical corporate bullshit, right Johnny?
Джонні Сільверхенд: Exactly, Ellie. It's all about control. They'll throw you a bone now and then, but make no mistake, they're the ones holding the leash.
Еллі: And Ronaldo? He's just another sucker who thought he could play the game and win. Newsflash, buddy, the game's rigged.
Джонні Сільверхенд: Ain't that the truth. But hey, at least he's got the balls to call them out. Too bad it's all for nothing. The system always wins.

🏷️ Themes

Sports, Middle East Football, Player Transfers

📚 Related People & Topics

Cristiano Ronaldo

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Karim Benzema

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Public Investment Fund

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📄 Original Source Content
Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Al-Nassr's squad for their clash with Al-Ittihad on Friday night. The Portuguese legend's relationship with the Saudi Pro League appears to be in ruins, with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star reportedly threatening to quit and leave after the Public Investment Fund facilitated a transfer for Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal, the latter of whom are Al-Nassr's direct rivals for the league title this season. Ronaldo left out of Al-Nassr squad again Ronaldo has been left out of Al-Nassr's squad to face Al-Ittihad, with the Saudi club officially confirming his absence as they posted their lineup for the clash on Friday night. While the five-time Ballon d'Or winner won't feature, there are starts for the likes of Marcelo Brozovic, Kingsley Coman, Sadio Mane and Joao Felix, with Al-Nassr still boasting ample firepower in attack without their talisman. The 41-year-old was also missing from the Al-Nassr squad that faced Al-Riyadh earlier this week, though they still managed to secure all three points thanks to Mane's strike in the 40th minute. CR7 warned over conduct after going on strike Ronaldo appears to feel that PIF has favoured other clubs in the Saudi Pro League title race. CR7 is yet to win the trophy himself since his move in 2023 and feels the decision to allow Benzema to swap Al-Ittihad for Al-Hilal shows a lack of support for him. A statement from the Saudi Pro League read: "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 on 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. "Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club's growth and

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