Overview
- Al‑Nassr said Cristiano Ronaldo sat out with a muscle issue, while A Bola and other Portuguese outlets reported he chose not to play as a protest.
- Coverage links his dissatisfaction to perceived preferential PIF investment in rivals, with Al‑Nassr’s only winter addition being 21‑year‑old midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem.
- Recent cuts to the authority of two Ronaldo confidants at Al‑Nassr, sporting director Simão Coutinho and CEO José Semedo, were reported as aggravating factors.
- Al‑Hilal officially announced the signing of Karim Benzema, strengthening the league leaders and intensifying scrutiny of competitive balance.
- Al‑Nassr beat Al‑Riyadh 1‑0 without Ronaldo to close the gap to a point behind Al‑Hilal, and media speculation now questions his future despite a lucrative deal through 2027.