Overview
- Cristiano Ronaldo sat out Al Nassr’s league game against Al-Riyadh in a protest action, and the team won 1-0, according to Italian reporting.
- Portuguese daily A Bola, cited across Italian outlets, reports his stance targets PIF’s management and reduced spending at Al Nassr versus other PIF-backed clubs.
- Al Nassr made only one winter signing, 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem, while rival Al Hilal added Pablo Marì and Kader Meité.
- Internal turbulence has been reported at Al Nassr, with the board said to have frozen the powers of sporting director Simão Coutinho and CEO José Semedo.
- Coach Jorge Jesus recently argued the club lacks Al Hilal’s political power, prompting Al Hilal to seek his suspension; Al Nassr remain second in the league, three points off the leaders.