Ronaldo was not included in the matchday squad, despite having no fitness issues and no official rest period. According to Sky Sports News, the decision was not tactical. Instead, it reflects growing frustration on the player’s part over how the club is being run.
Sources close to the situation say Ronaldo believes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) which controls several top clubs is favoring rivals such as Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Ittihad, while Al Nassr has been left behind in the transfer market.
Feeling Left Behind
While Ronaldo has continued to score freely and deliver strong performances, Al Nassr have failed to win the league title during his time at the club. He reportedly expected the team to invest heavily this transfer window, strengthen key areas, and show clear ambition.
Instead, he has watched rivals move quickly and decisively. Al Hilal, in particular, have enjoyed a productive window, signing former Arsenal defender Pablo Marí and pushing hard for Rennes striker Kader Meïté in a deal worth around £26 million.
Al Hilal have also completed a high profile move for Karim Benzema, who joined from Al Ittihad on a free transfer after his contract expired. The French striker has signed a one and a half year deal and is reportedly earning £1.6 million per week.
A Silent Protest?
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol described the situation as an effective strike.
‘Ronaldo earns around £500,000 a day, yet he was so unhappy that he didn’t play at all,’ Solhekol said.
‘He wasn’t injured, he wasn’t rested, he simply wasn’t selected. He feels PIF have invested far more in other clubs than in Al Nassr. He expected reinforcements. He feels that hasn’t happened.’
Solhekol added that Ronaldo believes the club missed a crucial opportunity to back him properly, which has left him frustrated and disillusioned.
Pressure Behind the Scenes
The situation highlights a growing issue in Saudi football, where uneven investment among PIF-backed clubs is quietly creating tension. For a player of Ronaldo’s stature, ambition and competition matter as much as salary and at the moment, those ambitions appear stalled.
Whether Ronaldo’s absence was a one-off message or the start of a deeper rift remains unclear. But one thing is certain, when a player of his profile goes missing without explanation, the silence speaks loudly.
Al Nassr now face mounting pressure to respond both on the pitch and in the transfer market—before frustration turns into fallout.
