Cristiano Ronaldo is prepared to continue his boycott of Al Nassr matches and could push for a transfer away from the Saudi club this summer if their transfer policy stance remains unchanged. According to Caughtoffside.com.
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr Future in Doubt as Star Threatens Extended Boycott
The Portuguese forward remains firm in his stance that PIF should change their transfer policy and is willing to continue his strike to push for change. ESPN reports that if the situation doesn’t improve by the summer, Ronaldo would be prepared to ask to leave Al Nassr despite having a contract until 2027.
Ronaldo refused to play in Al Nassr’s last game and reportedly tried to block Karim Benzema’s transfer from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal earlier this week. The 41-year-old star’s frustration stems from recent changes at Al Nassr that have significantly hindered what the club can do in the transfer market.
Club director Simao Coutinho and CEO Jose Semedo were recently suspended by PIF, which angered Ronaldo, while there was also apparently a cut to the team’s expenses. Meanwhile, Al Hilal have been given more money to spend on big signings like Benzema, leaving Ronaldo frustrated by the whole saga.
ESPN states that Ronaldo has a €50m release clause in his Al Nassr contract, but it’s hard to imagine any European side paying that for him now. With Ronaldo turning 41 today, it’s not clear how much longer he has left before retirement, making a move to somewhere like the MLS more likely at this stage.
It would surely be a big blow for Saudi football to lose Ronaldo, but it’s clear they’ll have to make some changes to keep this star name happy. The situation represents a significant test for the Saudi project’s ability to retain its marquee signings when internal politics clash with player expectations.
