Newcastle United latest news: Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly unhappy with PIF.
Cristiano Ronaldo has ‘effectively gone on strike’ at Al-Nassr, with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia at the forefront of his reported unhappiness.
Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr back in 2023, just a few weeks after being released by Manchester United following a one-year long return to his former club. During his time in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has scored over 100 times and is closing in on a thousand career goals.
However, he didn’t feature in Al-Nassr’s victory over Al-Riyadh on Wednesday amid unhappiness at a perceived lack of spending by the club’s owners. Al-Nassr are one of four Saudi Pro League teams to be majority-owned by PIF alongside Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad.
Despite being paid a reported £500,000 a day, Sky Sports have reported that the former Juventus and Real Madrid man is not satisfied with the way Al-Nassr are currently being run by PIF. Speaking about the situation, Kaveh Solhekol said: “Spare a thought for Cristiano Ronaldo, who earns around £500,000 a day. But he's so unhappy at the moment that he didn't play for his club Al Nassr on Monday.
“There wasn't anything wrong with his fitness, he wasn't rested, he wasn't in the squad at all. The reason he didn't play is he's unhappy with the way Al Nassr have been run.
“Ronaldo feels that the PIF have been putting more money into Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad than they have into his club Al Nassr. Bear in mind, Ronaldo has been in Saudi Arabia and scoring goals for fun - but Al Nassr have not won the title in that time. He thought - in this window - that the club would dig deep, bring in reinforcements and strengthen their squad. He feels that hasn't happened and that's why he's effectively gone on strike.”
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PIF’s Newcastle United and Saudi Pro League vision
Whilst PIF currently own four of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs, it is anticipated that ownership changes at those clubs are coming in the near future. Al-Hilal are expected to be sold to a new private investor this year, with the Saudi Ministry of Sport currently working to facilitate a change of ownership.
PIF, though, will continue to invest and develop football in Saudi Arabia, building up to the World Cup that will be hosted there in 2034.
On Tyneside, PIF remain committed to Newcastle United, although the club have once again passed through a transfer window without strengthening Eddie Howe’s first-team. Speaking about a lack of activity at Newcastle United during the winter window, Howe said on Tuesday morning: “Financially it wasn't possible [to sign players].
“As I said right at the start of the window, there may have been players that we were looking at that were for the future, younger players that we could develop. But ultimately, nothing happened. I didn't think there was going to be a player coming in that was going to affect the first team.”
The Magpies are currently preparing for a Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Manchester City before hosting Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.
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