‘Ronaldo Cannot Influence League Decisions’, Says Saudi Pro League

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has dismissed suggestions that Cristiano Ronaldo wields any influence over league-wide decisions, stressing that no player regardless of reputation can shape policies beyond their own club.

The clarification came amid mounting speculation over Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr following his omission from the squad in Monday’s league match against Al-Riyadh. Reports in Portugal had claimed that the 41-year-old forward refused to play due to frustration with the club’s management.

Although Ronaldo later shared a photo of himself back in training, uncertainty persists about whether he will feature in Friday’s clash with Al-Ittihad.

According to BBC Sport, the Portuguese star’s discontent reportedly intensified after his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, completed a move from Al-Ittihad to league leaders Al-Hilal earlier this week. Benzema marked his debut in stunning fashion, scoring a hat-trick in Al-Hilal’s 6–0 rout of Al-Okhdood.

Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has played a central role in the league’s aggressive global expansion and recruitment of world-class talent.

However, league officials have firmly rejected claims that star players like Ronaldo could influence recruitment or transfer decisions across clubs.

“The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,” a league spokesperson told BBC Sport.
“Clubs have their own boards, their own executives, and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending, and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance.”

The spokesperson nonetheless acknowledged Ronaldo’s immense contribution to the league’s profile and Al-Nassr’s ambitions since his arrival in 2022.

“Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win.
But no individual, however significant, determines decisions beyond their own club.”

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United midway through the 2021–22 season, signing a deal reportedly worth £177 million per year, the highest salary in football history.

Despite his prolific scoring record in Saudi Arabia, his only major silverware with Al-Nassr remains the 2023 Arab Club Champions Cup.