Cristiano Ronaldo: You are not bigger than the league — Saudi League releases statement after Al-Nassr star goes on strike

The Saudi Pro League has released a statement addressing Cristiano Ronaldo's protest against the transfer dealings in the division.

The Saudi Pro League has released a statement addressing Cristiano Ronaldo’s protest against the division over perceived bias against Al-Nassr regarding the allocation of funds.

The 41-year-old was missing in action when Al-Nassr faced Al-Riyadh on Monday, as they chased down Al-Hilal at the top of the table.

As Pulse Sports reported, the absence was neither due to injury nor fatigue; it was a protest against the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which owns controlling stakes in the top four clubs in the division: Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli.

Karim Benzema’s transfer from Al-Ittihad to Al Hilal is believed to have triggered Ronaldo’s agitation, with reports suggesting that the former Manchester United man believes funds are allocated unfairly.

Saudi Pro League statement 

Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training after the alleged strike, as he shared a picture of himself on the Al Nassr training ground on Wednesday. However, it remains unclear whether he will take to the pitch when they play Al-Itihad on Friday.

Hence, the Saudi Pro League released a statement insisting that all clubs owned by PIF operate independently within a fair financial framework. Ronaldo was also named in the statement, which confirms the reports of his protest, with the communique stating that he was not bigger than the league and hence has no say over the transfer dealings of other clubs.

"The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules,” the statement read, according to the BBC.

"Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. That framework applies equally across the league.

"Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club's growth and ambition. Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual - however significant - determines decisions beyond their own club.

"Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters.

"The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended.

"The focus remains on football – on the pitch, where it belongs – and on maintaining a credible, competitive competition for players and fans."