Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Al Nassr is getting more intense as Benzema's move worsens tensions
JAKARTA - Cristiano Ronaldo's long-term future in Saudi Arabia has undergone a dramatic change. Launching Teamtalk, the megastar is frustrated with what he calls a lack of support from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) for Al Nassr.
The situation has prompted him closer than ever to consider a move away from Al Nassr in the summer.
The 40-year-old's contract contains a clause that allows him to leave Al Nassr in June 2026. Interest from Europe and MLS (Major League Soccer) has begun to increase. However, tensions behind the scenes are now accelerating the possibility of his departure early.
According to an internal source reported by the same source, Ronaldo's frustration reached a boiling point last week, culminating in the striker's refusal to play in Al Nassr's match against Al Riyadh on Monday, February 2, 2026.
The decision - described by those closest to him in the dressing room as a strike in the true sense of the word - is the most visible form of Ronaldo's discontent since arriving in the Saudi Pro League.
Club officials are now preparing to punish Ronaldo for his absence from the latest match, a move he says is unfair.
The recent news that allowed Karim Benzema to move from Al Ittihad to Al-Hilal - Al Nassr's rival and the same club under the PIF umbrella - further increased Ronaldo's injustice.
Ronaldo believes that Benzema's handling of the situation reveals the nature of the imbalance in funding of the Saudi Pro League, with different clubs receiving different levels of flexibility and support from the same main investors.
The lack of support Al Nassr felt compared to their rivals has left the Portuguese star feeling isolated, unappreciated, and increasingly unsure of the project he was once promised.
Meanwhile, the attacker's representatives continue to receive initial approaches from European clubs, some of whom are willing to reshape their sporting projects around the veteran striker for one last chance at the elite level.
MLS clubs are also eyeing Ronaldo, drawn by his unrivalled commercial appeal and the possibility of landing the biggest name in the sport's modern era.
For now, Al Nassr publicly states that Ronaldo remains the center of their plans. However, privately, the top brass are concerned they may be heading for another big transfer story centered on the most marketable football figure on the market.
If the situation continues to deteriorate, Ronaldo's clause in June 2026 could become relevant much faster than expected. Europe and the United States have been watching closely.