‘No Individual is Bigger Than The Club’ - Saudi League Fires Back at Sulking Cristiano Ronaldo

The Saudi Pro League has issued a firm statement emphasising that "no individual—however significant—determines decisions beyond their own club," as speculation mounts over Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Al-Nassr.

The 41-year-old Portuguese superstar was notably absent from Al-Nassr's squad for their recent league match against Al-Riyadh on Monday. Reports from Portuguese media outlet A Bola suggested Ronaldo had refused to play, citing dissatisfaction with the club's management under Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Sources have indicated to BBC Sport that Ronaldo's frustration was primarily sparked by the recent transfer of his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, from Al-Ittihad to league leaders Al-Hilal. Benzema, 38, made an immediate impact, scoring a hat-trick on his debut in a dominant 6-0 victory for Al-Hilal over Al-Okhdood last Thursday.

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Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, the nation's most decorated club with 19 league titles, are among the four clubs majority-owned by the PIF, which also holds a controlling stake in Premier League side Newcastle United.

While Ronaldo shared a photo of himself back in training on Wednesday, Saudi Pro League officials remain uncertain about his participation in the upcoming clash against Al-Ittihad on Friday.

In a statement provided to BBC Sport, a spokesperson for the league clarified its operational structure. "The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules," the statement read.

"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."

The spokesperson acknowledged Ronaldo's contributions but reinforced the league's stance on individual influence.

"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."

The league pointed to recent transfers as evidence of club autonomy. "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."

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in late 2022 after his acrimonious departure from Manchester United, signing a deal that made him the highest-paid player in football history with a reported annual salary of £177 million. His only silverware with the club to date is the Arab Club Champions Cup.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner recently extended his contract beyond June 2025, though speculation about a potential loan move to rivals Al-Hilal had circulated before the new deal was signed.

In contrast to Al-Hilal's high-profile acquisition of Benzema, Al-Nassr's only signing during the January transfer window was Iraqi U-23 midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem.

Currently, Al-Hilal sits atop the league table, unbeaten with 50 points from 20 matches. Al-Nassr is in third place, four points behind but with a game in hand, making for a tight title race.

"The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself," the league spokesperson concluded. "With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended. The focus remains on football—on the pitch, where it belongs."