Cristiano Ronaldo’s strike at Al-Nassr appears to be over. As is becoming increasingly clear, it was also a power struggle between the club management and CR7, who apparently prevailed. However, the 41-year-old will still be absent from the Asian Champions League on Wednesday.
Last week, Cristiano Ronaldo missed both the 1-0 win at Al-Riyadh and the 2-0 win against Al-Ittihad—he was not injured, the Portuguese player was on strike. Why? That is still not entirely clear, as there has been no official statement from the five-time Ballon d’Or winner or his club; only the Saudi league had shown its displeasure and publicly reprimanded the player.
Initially, it was said that he was dissatisfied with the transfer policy of his club, which, unlike league rivals such as Al Hilal, did not present any notable reinforcements, but then there was also talk of outstanding salary payments – however, this was not said to be about missing payments to him, but rather that club employees were affected.
Outstanding salaries and limited powers
Now, however, A Bola is reporting “white smoke in Riyadh.” According to the report, the club has settled outstanding payments to employees and partners, whereupon CR7 is said to have ended his protest.
According to the report, the management at Al-Nassr finally gave in to pressure from the superstar. In any case, Cristiano Ronaldo is training again—and he has apparently got his way across the board. The question now is when he will return.
This will not happen immediately, as the captain of the Portuguese national team is not expected to play in Al-Nassr’s Asian Champions League away game against FC Arkadag in Turkmenistan on Wednesday. His comeback on the pitch is not planned until Friday’s away game at Al-Fateh.
CR7 is also said to have secured the reinstatement of the powers of two Portuguese executives, José Semedo (managing director) and Simao Coutinho (sporting director), which had been restricted by the club in December with regard to transfers – the duo will now be allowed to take care of squad planning again. Whether this is exactly how events unfolded remains to be seen, as there has been no official confirmation.
