The Portuguese star has ended his strike and his club had to give in. Here’s how it went down.
Cristiano Ronaldo has made Al-Nassr bend to his will. Recently, the Portuguese decided to boycott matches in the Saudi Pro League, including the clash against Al-Ittihad. Despite this, Jorge Jesus’s team won 1-0, but seeing the SPL’s number one star on strike shocked everyone. The root of this conflict? Karim Benzema’s move to Al-Hilal. CR7 got fed up watching his club remain less ambitious than its rivals and called out the favoritism shown to Simone Inzaghi’s team. Al-Nassr insisted privately that Ronaldo was acting in the club’s best interest, but the SPL quickly grew annoyed with a player earning €200 million a season who refuses to play.
Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his strike and made Al-Nassr yield.
In a statement released on February 6, the Saudi League reminded everyone that CR7, fully committed since his arrival, primarily wants to win and that transfer decisions belong to the club, not to any player. The title race remains intense, with only a few points separating the top four.
This didn’t intimidate Ronaldo or Jorge Jesus. Bound to the club until June, the Portuguese coach warned he wouldn’t extend without guarantees that he could rely on the Portuguese star. Yesterday, local media confirmed that CR7 had ended his strike: he will miss the Asian Champions League match against FK Arkadag but will be present on Saturday against Al-Fateh. The reason? Ronaldo received assurances that recent mistakes would be corrected to restore stability within the club.
Specifically, CR7 has put his two compatriots, CEO José Semedo and sporting director Simão Coutinho, back in the spotlight after their roles had been limited in recent months. This return could cost president Abdullah Al-Majed his job, as he has faced criticism for his attitude towards Ronaldo’s camp. To top it off, overdue salaries owed to some employees are set to be settled very soon.
