Cristiano Ronaldo Absent For Second Straight Game Amid Transfer Dispute With Saudi Pro League

Cristiano Ronaldo has missed his second straight game for Al-Nassr amid a dispute with the Saudi Pro League.

Ronaldo was sidelined for Friday’s match against Al Ittihad after also not playing on Monday against Al Riyadh. Al Nassr won both of those matchups despite being without Ronaldo.

According to ESPN, Ronaldo was upset that he did not receive a guarantee that the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) would make changes regarding the Saudi Pro League, leading to the star player boycotting Friday’s game. Al Nassr expected to see Ronaldo on the pitch despite the dispute.

Ronaldo missed Monday’s game because he was unhappy with the PIF’s help for his club in the transfer window.

The Saudi Pro League issued a statement warning Ronaldo, “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: Every club operates independently under the same rules,” the league 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. That framework applies equally across the league.”

Transfer funds are supposed to come from player acquisition funds and not the PIF. The funds are all overseen by the Saudi Pro League, and the funds are based on the size of the club.

It is unclear when Ronaldo will return to game action.

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Article by Sam Lanier