February 10 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s brief standoff with Al-Nassr appears to have ended, with the club moving to steady relations after what amounted to a calculated show of leverage from their most powerful figure.
The 41-year-old sat out two consecutive matches despite continuing to train – an absence that was impossible to ignore given the player’s weekly salary ofaround £450,000.
Ronaldo’s frustration had been growing over Al-Nassr’s financial hibernation during the January transfer window, particularly as title rivals Al-Hilal – also under the Saudi Public Investment Fund umbrella – flexed their muscle by securing Karim Benzema.
According to A Bola, the breakthrough came when Al-Nassr restored decision-making authority to chief executive Jose Semedo and sporting director Simao Coutinho, both appointed last summer and both personally close to Ronaldo. Their influence is understood to have been reduced during January, limiting the club’s ability to act in the market at a time when Ronaldo was publicly pushing for ambition to match their Saudi rivals.
There were also concerns internally, with Ronaldo believed to have taken issue with delays to staff salary payments – an issue the club has since directly addressed. Settling those balances was seen as part of a wider effort to clear the air and get their captain back onside.
On the pitch, Al-Nassr have coped without him, beating Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad during his absence, which may have prompted the player’s return to action before an unfavourable pattern emerges. Ronaldo trained last week but chose not to feature in the latter, and he will also sit out the AFC Cup trip to Arkadag. His return is now expected when the Saudi Pro League resumes against Al-Fateh this weekend.
The wider backdrop is still pretty awkward. Benzema’s immediate impact at Al-Hilal, scoring a debut hattrick, only sharpened the contrast with Al-Nassr’s quiet window, which produced just one young midfield signing.
League officials have pushed back on the idea of preferential treatment or centrally driven imbalance, stressing that clubs operate independently under the same financial framework.
Ronaldo, for all his stature, has yet to translate his Saudi move into major silverware, with Al-Nassr finishing behind their rivals every season since his arrival in January 2023. For now, the truce holds – and Ronaldo will soon be back where he’s supposed to be, on the pitch.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1770721114labto1770721114ofdlr1770721114owedi1770721114sni@g1770721114niwe.1770721114yrrah1770721114
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