Most people complain about work when the Wi-Fi drops or the printer chews through paper for sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s version of a workplace protest looks very different.
The world’s richest footballer, reportedly earning close to half a million pounds every single day, has decided not to turn up.
Ahead of Al-Nassr’s Saudi Pro League showdown with city rivals Al-Riyadh, Ronaldo has effectively gone on strike, proving that even unimaginable money doesn’t automatically equal job satisfaction.
Why Ronaldo Has Had Enough in Riyadh
So what pushed a global icon into open rebellion? Reports from Portugal suggest Ronaldo is furious about what he sees as Al-Nassr’s lack of ambition in the transfer market.
While rival clubs continue to strengthen aggressively, he believes his own team has been left treading water.
At the centre of his frustration is Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns a 75 per cent stake in Al-Nassr and also controls Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli.
Ronaldo feels that while those clubs, particularly Al-Hilal, have been heavily backed, Al-Nassr have been quietly sidelined.
A Bitter Twist After Pledging Loyalty to Saudi Arabia
This is a striking turn of events for a player who declared “I belong to Saudi Arabia” when he signed a staggering two-year contract extension worth around £492m last summer.
Ronaldo has embraced life in the Middle East, praised the culture and spoken warmly about his experience since arriving in 2023.
Yet beneath the surface, the competitive fire still burns.
Watching rivals strengthen while his own club stands still appears to have crossed a line.
Benzema’s Standoff Adds Fuel to the Fire
Ronaldo’s protest didn’t happen in isolation.
Just days earlier, Karim Benzema reportedly refused to play for Al-Ittihad after being offered what he felt was an insulting contract.
The former Ballon d’Or winner now looks set for a move to Al-Hilal, where a far richer deal is said to be waiting.
With both clubs controlled by the same investment fund, the situation has amplified concerns about imbalance at the very top of Saudi football.
Success, Goals, and the One Missing Piece
Individually, Ronaldo has little left to prove.
He remains on track to become the first player in history to reach 1,000 career goals if his current scoring rate continues.
But there’s one glaring gap in his Saudi chapter: silverware.
Despite his influence and star power, he still hasn’t lifted a domestic trophy with Al-Nassr.
For a player obsessed with legacy, the fear is obvious — all the goals in the world won’t soften the verdict if this move ends without titles.
January Window Frustrations Deepen the Divide
With Al-Nassr sitting three points behind league leaders Al-Hilal, Ronaldo was hoping January would bring reinforcements to close the gap.
Instead, the club’s only arrival was 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal splashed around £28m on Pablo Mari and Kader Meite and are still negotiating deals for Saimon Bouabre and Benzema.
The contrast has been hard for Ronaldo to ignore.
Following the Money Across Saudi Football
Since Ronaldo’s headline-grabbing move in January 2023 sparked a flood of elite signings to the league, spending patterns have told their own story.
Al-Hilal have invested roughly £540m in transfers, while Al-Nassr sit closer to £350m.
Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad trail even further behind.
From Ronaldo’s perspective, the message feels clear — not all giants are being treated equally.
A Life of Luxury Away from the Noise
Off the pitch, the contrast couldn’t be sharper.
Ronaldo continues to enjoy life as football’s first billionaire alongside partner Georgina Rodriguez and their children.
In December, it emerged that the couple had bought two ultra-private villas at the exclusive Nujuma Ritz-Carlton Reserve on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the retreat is built for privacy, peace and family time.
Villas start at around £3.1m, though the exact price of Ronaldo’s properties remains unknown.
Peace, Privacy, and an Escape from Football Politics
Ronaldo has spoken openly about feeling a deep connection to the island and its natural beauty, describing it as a place where his family can truly switch off.
It’s a far cry from boardroom tensions, transfer disputes and league politics.
If his standoff with Al-Nassr drags on, at least Ronaldo has somewhere to retreat — a serene, sun-drenched world away from the frustrations of football, where even the richest man in the game just wants one thing money can’t buy: the right chance to win.
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