Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the Al-Nassr starting line-up this weekend after sitting out two matches in protest at the club's lack of January transfer window signings
Felix Keith
12:05, 10 Feb 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his Al-Nassr return
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make his Al-Nassr return(Image: Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to return to Al-Nassr's starting XI this weekend following the end of his boycott.
The news is a boost for Liverpool hero Sadio Mane, who is chasing his first Saudi Pro League title with Al-Nassr this season. The team is second in the table, just a point behind Al-Hilal in first. Ronaldo has been absent from his side's last two fixtures in protest over the club's minimal activity during the January transfer window, but he has now emerged victorious from his standoff.
The 41-year-old striker left his employer reeling after declining to feature last week. His frustration stems from Al-Nassr's owner, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), and what he perceives as insufficient investment in the squad.
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PIF controls several Saudi Pro League teams, and Ronaldo looked on with envy as Al-Hilal secured the signature of Karim Benzema last month with significant financial backing. The forward didn't hold back in expressing his discontent with Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League and the PIF.
Having missed fixtures against Al-Ittihad and Al-Riyadh, The Times now reports he's declared himself ready for Saturday's clash with Al-Fateh, and for the remainder of the campaign. This follows Al-Nassr addressing two of the grievances Ronaldo had highlighted.
Firstly, chief executive Jose Semedo and director of soccer Simao Coutinho - both trusted associates and fellow Portuguese nationals of Ronaldo - have had their authority reinstated, while club personnel who'd been awaiting wages have now received payment.
Karim Benzema recently left Al-Ittihad for Al-Hilal
Karim Benzema recently left Al-Ittihad for Al-Hilal(Image: Getty Images)
While the matter has been settled for now, the controversy has cast uncertainty over Ronaldo's future in Saudi Arabia beyond the immediate term.
The former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward remains tied to Al-Nassr until next season's conclusion, though a £43 million ($58.8 million) release clause will come into effect this summer.
He's drawn attention from European sides and Major League Soccer, although his current salary - approximately £488,000 per day (more than $650,000) - presents a significant obstacle for other clubs lacking the financial muscle of a state-backed investment fund.
Despite Ronaldo coming out on top in this instance, a statement issued by an SPL spokesperson last week clarified where true authority rests in Saudi Arabia. "The [league] is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules," they said.
"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.
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"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."