Cristiano Ronaldo is set to return to action with Al Nassr, ending a two‑match boycott that had kept him sidelined amid reported disagreements with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Club relents on staff wage payments
According to the newspaper A Bola, “it is understood that Al Nassr’s board bowed to pressure from the Portuguese star and, in recent hours, settled all outstanding payments owed to club employees. This gesture of solidarity from CR7 proved decisive in reaching an agreement, showing that the captain was also fighting for the dignity of those who work behind the scenes at the Riyadh powerhouse.”
With the standoff resolved, Cristiano is now cleared to travel - if his club deems it appropriate - to Turkmenistan for Wednesday’s AFC Champions League 2 matchup. It’s a competition in which he has barely featured so far, largely due to the modest level of opposition during the opening phase.
“Alongside disagreements with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) over what he sees as unequal treatment toward the country’s top clubs, a key factor emerged in the captain’s decision: the social issue. Ronaldo, in a display of leadership that goes beyond the pitch, included in his protest the delayed wage payments owed to several Al Nassr employees and support staff,” A Bola reported.
CR7 upset over transfers
Ronaldo is likewise believed to have been angered by Karim Benzema’s move from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal - Al Nassr’s most direct rival in the title race.
Al Hilal is widely regarded as the most powerful and popular club in Saudi Arabia, and - according to fans of other teams - the one that enjoys the most favorable treatment from PIF. Ronaldo reportedly wanted to call attention to that, but skipping a third match would have triggered a suspension that, from all indications, will no longer be applied.
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