Khaberni - The celebration of the legend Cristiano Ronaldo's 41st birthday turned into a "rebellion crisis" due to his absence from his team Al-Nassr for the second consecutive match in the Saudi Professional Football League (Roshan League).
Although the league title is still in play, Ronaldo chose to escalate; after missing the match against Riyadh, he was absent today, Friday, from the list for the "clasico" against Al-Ittihad. This absence, described by journalist "Fabrizio Romano" as "not due to injury or technical issues," but rather as a clear protest against what the player sees as "bias" in the distribution of major deals, especially after Karim Benzema's move from Al-Ittihad to the traditional rival Al Hilal.
According to the Portuguese newspaper "A Bola", Ronaldo deliberately refused to play the Al-Nassr versus Riyadh match last Sunday, protesting against the way his team is managed and the lack of strong reinforcements compared to other clubs.
After Ronaldo returned to training last Wednesday and posted a training photo on his social media accounts, everyone thought the crisis was over, but his absence today from the match against Al-Ittihad confirms otherwise.
The Roshan League responded to Ronaldo's "rebellion"
Ronaldo's absence from the summit against Al-Ittihad came hours after stern statements by a spokesperson for the Saudi Professional League, published by the BBC, in which he responded to the Portuguese star's "rebellion" against his club. The spokesperson, preferring anonymity, drew a clear line between the player's celebrity and the independence of the sporting decision, affirming that the system operates on the principle of "equality in regulations". The statement read:
"The Saudi Professional League operates on a simple principle: each club works independently according to the same rules. Decisions related to transfers and spending are made by the clubs themselves, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance, which applies to everyone without exception."
The statements were not without a "stern tone" directed specifically at Ronaldo, praising his historic commitment with Al-Nassr, yet setting limits on his ambitions to influence the policies of competitors, saying: "Like any elite competitor, Cristiano aspires to win, but no one - no matter how famous - has the authority to impose their decisions outside their club’s walls. The recent movements in the transfer market proved this independence; each club chose its own approach within its financial limits."
The member of the Saudi league concluded his strong statements with a cryptic sentence that leaves its meaning uncertain: "Everything is still possible."
The coming days will reveal whether the "Madeira Rocket" will abide by the Saudi League’s regulations and his club’s policies, or if this strike marks the beginning of the end of his journey in Saudi fields.
