SPL informed CR7: No one has the right to decide matters outside their club

On February 5 local time, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement to the media, emphasizing the financial management independence of each club.

(Note: This statement was sent to major media outlets by the spokesperson of the Saudi Professional League. Media outlets such as Sky Sports, The Guardian, and the BBC all received the same press release and published it.)

Previously, there were reports that Cristiano Ronaldo was dissatisfied with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) because the fund failed to invest funds in Al Nassr during the winter transfer window, while the rival Al Hilal—also 75% owned by PIF—signed his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.

A spokesperson for the Saudi Professional League said: "The Saudi Professional League is based on a simple principle: all clubs operate independently under the same rules. Each club has its own board of directors, management, and football leadership team. Decisions regarding signings, expenditures, and strategies are made by each club on its own, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. This framework applies equally across the entire league. Since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr, he has been fully committed and has played an important role in the club's growth and ambitions. Like any elite competitor, he desires to win. But no individual—no matter how important—can decide matters outside their own club."

The spokesperson continued: "Recent transfer activities clearly reflect this point. One club chose a certain way to strengthen its squad, while another chose a different way. These are decisions made by the clubs within the approved financial framework. The competitiveness of the league is self-evident. Since the points gap between the top four teams is very small, the title race is still full of suspense. This balance reflects that the league system is operating as expected. The focus remains on football itself—on the pitch, as it should be—while committing to maintaining a credible and competitive league for players and fans."