The match between Al Nassr and Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League was full of controversies both on and off the pitch.
Ronaldo could have featured in matches if the club had settled the unpaid wages, but as the situation remains unchanged to this day, the Portugal national team captain is sticking to his protest stance and refusing to play.
The Portuguese skipper believes that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has not changed its stance at all – it has not only invested significantly less in the transfer market than rival clubs such as Al Hilal, but also kept delaying the payment of wages to players, the coaching staff and club employees for a considerable period of time.
Ronaldo will continue to wait for the unpaid wages issue to be resolved before making his return to the pitch. Since the matter has not been addressed so far, he will miss the match once again.
The Saudi Pro League has responded to Ronaldo’s boycott protest. It issued a statement denying any favoritism or interference in the sports management of clubs, emphasizing that the league is built on the basis of the complete independence and autonomy of each club. A spokesperson for the organization was quoted in a British tabloid as saying that the Portuguese international’s stance is unfounded, explaining that the league "is built around a simple principle: all clubs operate independently under the same rules".
Saudi sources, however, insist that the PIF is only involved in the initial stage of the privatization process as a medium-term owner. Some senior Saudi officials even hope that Ronaldo will buy Al Nassr after his retirement, but the new short-term challenge now is how to appease the player. Going forward, Ronaldo is expected to hold further talks with senior officials from the PIF and the Saudi Pro League.
