Cristiano Ronaldo was not included in the Al Nassr squad for a second successive game amid his ongoing dispute with the Saudi Pro League.
The 41-year-old was absent from the line-up for Friday night’s match against Al Ittihad, having also not featured in Monday’s victory over Al Riyadh.
The Portugal captain is believed to be upset by his club’s lack of January transfer business.
He is reported to be unhappy with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) for failing to invest in the team in the winter window while rivals Al Hilal – also 75 per cent majority-owned by the PIF – brought in his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema from Friday’s opponents.
Ronaldo has already been warned by the Pro League that “no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club”.
A Pro League spokesperson said on Thursday: “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules.
“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. That framework applies equally across the league.
“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.
“Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters.
“The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended.
“The focus remains on football — on the pitch, where it belongs — and on maintaining a credible, competitive competition for players and fans.”
