Cristiano Ronaldo ends Al Nassr standoff
Cristiano Ronaldo’s standoff with Al Nassr has reached its conclusion following successful negotiations between the Portuguese superstar and club management, reports BritPanorama.
The 41-year-old forward will make himself available for selection once more after the Saudi outfit addressed his principal grievances. Key issues included the settlement of outstanding wages owed to club employees, following high-level discussions involving the Public Investment Fund.
Additionally, Portuguese directors Jose Semedo and Simao Coutinho have had their authority within the organisation restored, having previously seen their powers diminished ahead of the January transfer window. These developments effectively resolved the key issues that prompted Ronaldo’s refusal to represent the club.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner sat out consecutive Saudi Pro League fixtures, declining to participate in matches against Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad. However, his absence proved no hindrance to his teammates, who secured victories in both encounters without their talismanic striker. Notably, the match against Al Ittihad saw Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel find the net in a 2-0 triumph.
Ronaldo’s protest stemmed from deep dissatisfaction with the club’s approach during the January transfer window and broader concerns regarding financial management. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was reportedly incensed upon discovering that staff members had experienced delays in receiving their salary payments.
His frustration centred on what he perceived as unequal treatment among clubs under PIF ownership. While Al Nassr’s sole January acquisition was a youth player named Haydeer Abdulkareem, their championship rivals Al Hilal embarked on a substantial spending spree, securing the services of former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari from Fiorentina, among others, in deals reportedly worth £26 million apiece.
Most galling for Ronaldo was Al Hilal’s capture of Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad, with his former Real Madrid teammate marking his debut with a hat-trick in a 6-0 demolition of Al Akhdoud last Thursday. The Portuguese captain has resumed training with his Al Nassr colleagues and is pencilled in to feature when Jorge Jesus’s side travel to Al Fateh this Saturday for the 22nd round of league action. However, Ronaldo will not be risked in Wednesday’s AFC Champions League Two last-16 encounter against Turkmenistan’s Arkadag, with the club opting to protect their prized asset physically as they have done throughout the continental competition.
Despite earning a reported £500,000 daily, the forward retains a £43 million release clause that becomes active this summer, leaving his long-term future in Saudi Arabia uncertain with 18 months remaining on his contract. With Ronaldo back in the frame, the next chapter of this saga unfolds, underscoring the ongoing dance between individual aspirations and club ambitions amid a backdrop of burgeoning Saudi football.
