‘No player bigger than the league’: Saudi Pro League’s stern message as ‘unhappy’ Ronaldo casts long shadow

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr (Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr has come under fresh scrutiny after the Saudi Pro League (SPL) issued a firm statement stressing that “no player is bigger than the club or the league,” adding drama ahead of a crucial Asian Champions League Two clash.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Al-Nassr face Turkmenistan’s Arkadag on Wednesday with a quarterfinal berth on the line, but the focus has shifted to Ronaldo’s absence and reported frustration with the club’s direction. The 41-year-old Portuguese star has missed the team’s last two Saudi Pro League matches amid claims he is unhappy with the way the club is being funded — especially after rival Al-Hilal strengthened their squad by signing Karim Benzema in the latest transfer window. All four major Saudi clubs — Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli — are majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and comparisons between their spending strategies have intensified scrutiny around Ronaldo’s situation. In a strongly worded statement, the SPL emphasised its stance on governance and player influence. “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,” the league said. “Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club's growth and ambition. But no individual — however significant — determines decisions beyond their own club.” Despite Ronaldo’s absence, Al-Nassr secured an impressive 2-0 victory over reigning champion Al-Ittihad last week, showing resilience ahead of their continental fixture. Elsewhere in Asian competition, Al-Hilal continue to dominate the western zone with a perfect six-match record, while Al-Ahli have already sealed a knockout berth. In the eastern zone, Vissel Kobe remained the only confirmed qualifier so far, as Chinese clubs struggled at the bottom of the standings.

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