Cristiano Ronaldo has ended his brief boycott of Al Nassr after two central demands were addressed, clearing the way for his return to Saudi Pro League action later this week.
The Portuguese forward sat out two matches amid growing frustration over the club’s January inactivity and internal decision-making. Reports suggested the situation escalated after Karim Benzema joined rivals Al Hilal, underlining the gap Ronaldo felt Al Nassr needed to close.
After a tense week, ESPN Brasil reported that Ronaldo has been reintegrated into first-team training following intervention by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which holds a majority stake in both Al Nassr and Al Hilal. The move effectively brought the standoff to an end.
One issue raised by Ronaldo concerned overdue salaries owed to members of Al Nassr’s staff. While the club did not specify whether players, coaches or backroom staff were affected, reports indicate the outstanding payments have now been settled in full.
More significantly from a sporting perspective, Al Nassr have restored influence to sporting director Simão Coutinho and chief executive José Semedo. The Portuguese duo, both of whom previously overlapped with Ronaldo at Sporting CP, were believed to have lost recruitment authority shortly before the January window — a decision that reportedly infuriated the club’s captain.
With Coutinho and Semedo back in charge, preparations can now begin for an ambitious summer transfer window, an area where Ronaldo is understood to have high expectations.
Al Nassr travel to Turkmenistan on Wednesday for an AFC Champions League Two fixture against Arkadag, but Ronaldo is not expected to be involved. Instead, multiple reports suggest he will return on Saturday, 14 February, when Al Nassr face Al Fateh in the league.
During Ronaldo’s absence, the team found stability, winning two matches without conceding. Sadio Mané has operated centrally, scoring in both games, supported by João Félix in an advanced role.
Public reaction to Ronaldo’s refusal to play was mixed, with critics pointing to his salary and questioning his conduct. In response, Portuguese outlet A Bola emphasised his role in pushing for unpaid staff to be compensated, framing the episode as an act of leadership rather than self-interest.
