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Boardroom
Al Nassr will not have star forward Cristiano Ronaldo available when it faces Al Riyadh on Monday, Feb. 2.
The reason for Ronaldo’s absence is somewhat unclear. Local reports initially said the Portuguese star’s absence was due to load management, with a key game against Al Ittihad set for Friday, Feb. 6.
But a report from A Bola on Sunday, Feb. 1 threw the entire situation into question. According to the Portuguese outlet, Ronaldo is sitting the game out as a protest against his club’s owner, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Ronaldo reportedly believes the PIF, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, is not investing in Al Nassr as much as the other Saudi teams it owns, Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, and Al Hilal.
Al Nassr has made just one signing this winter, a $500,000 move for Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal just completed the €30 million signing of Rennes forward Kader Meïté, and also brought in former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari from Fiorentina.
Fabrizio Romano hinted at Ronaldo’s unhappiness, though the reporter didn’t go as far as A Bola. Romano simply said that Ronalo’s absence against Al Riyadh “is not related to any physical issue nor to workload or fitness management.”
Ronaldo’s absence will be a major blow for title-chasing Al Nassr, which enters the match in second place in the Saudi Pro League, three points back of Al Hilal.
Even with his 41st birthday coming this week, Ronaldo has scored 17 goals in 18 league matches this season.
