Cristiano Ronaldo Boycotts Al Nassr Over Lack of Investment and Club Tensions
Ronaldo may skip upcoming match as frustrations grow over Al Nassr’s poor investment and leadership struggles in Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo looks set to miss Al Nassr’s upcoming Saudi Pro League match against Al Riyadh on Monday, signaling his rising frustration with the club’s current leadership.
According to A BOLA, the Portuguese star’s decision isn’t due to injury or squad rotation before their clash with Al Ittihad. Instead, Ronaldo is unhappy with how Al Nassr is being run by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), especially compared to other clubs under the same ownership.
As team captain, he believes Al Nassr is suffering from a lack of investment. Head coach Jorge Jesus hasn’t received the backing needed in the transfer market, with the club signing only one player during the winter window – 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haider Abdulkarim.
Ronaldo’s frustration is fueled by direct comparisons with city rivals Al Hilal, who have been far more active. The Riyadh club paid €2 million to Fiorentina for Spanish centre-back Pablo Marí and are reportedly set to spend €30 million on Rennes striker Kader Maïté.
In recent hours, Al Hilal has also been linked with a possible move for Karim Benzema, while negotiations for French international Simon Bouabré, 21, for another €30 million are reportedly advanced.
Tensions within Al Nassr grew further after the board froze the powers of sporting director Simão Coutinho and CEO José Semedo earlier this month—a move Ronaldo feels has weakened the club’s leadership.
This isn’t the first public sign of unrest. In January, Jorge Jesus openly admitted Al Nassr "don’t have the political power of Al Hilal," words that sent ripples through Saudi football.
Ronaldo’s apparent boycott now exposes the widening gap inside a club struggling to match the ambition and resources of its fiercest competition.
