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Ronaldo sits out for Al-Nassr amid tension with PIF ownership
- On Feb 2, 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo ruled himself out of Al-Nassr's Saudi Pro League match vs Al-Riyadh, with multiple outlets describing his absence as an effective strike over PIF's transfer policy.
- Ronaldo's frustration stems from perceived PIF favoritism, as Al-Nassr signed only Haydeer Abdulkareem while PIF-owned rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad pursued Karim Benzema and other transfers.
- Cristiano Ronaldo had no injury concerns and was available for selection, remains under contract until June 2027 with nearly 18 months left, and scored 17 goals this season.
- Al-Nassr nonetheless beat Al-Riyadh 1-0 without Ronaldo, with former Liverpool winger Sadio Mané scoring the winner, while they remain three points behind league leaders Al-Hilal.
- Bookmakers immediately linked Ronaldo's absence to transfer exits, pricing MLS at 7/4 and Sporting Lisbon at 5/2, while Benzema's negotiations may have added pressure on PIF-owned clubs.
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89 Articles
89 Articles
Rockdale Citizen & Newton Citizen+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Reports: Ronaldo missed match due to frustration with Saudi's PIF
Frustration about Al-Nassr's quiet transfer window motivated Cristiano Ronaldo to sit out of the club's 1-0 win against Al-Riyadh on Monday, multiple media outlets reported.
·Georgia, United States
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The Portuguese is disappointed with the management of the Saudi public Investment Fund and refused to go to the game with Al Riyadh, in a game where Al Nassr won the following fifth win (0-1).
·Portugal
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The Portuguese champion has decided to strike with his club because of the missed purchases. Too much difference with the al-hilal by Simone Inzaghi, protagonist in the January market
·Italy
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Total News Sources89
Leaning Left12Leaning Right9Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left
43% Left
L 43%
C 25%
R 32%
Factuality
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