CR7 Sparks Debate: No Player Is Bigger Than the Club in the Saudi Pro League
5 February 2026
"CR7" has sparked speculation about his future with Al Nassr.
The Saudi Pro League issued a stern message to Cristiano Ronaldo, stressing that any player, no matter how important, cannot be bigger than the competition itself.
Ronaldo, who turned 41 today, is nearing a second consecutive absence as Al Nassr faces Al Ittihad tomorrow, in the Roshn Saudi League, amid reports he is unhappy with the support his club receives compared to rivals Al Hilal.
The former Real Madrid forward is upset after Karim Benzema's move to the Al Hilal squad recently.
Ronaldo Claims
In a notable development, the British Daily Mail quoted a league spokesman saying, "these claims are false... the Saudi Professional League operates on a simple principle: every club acts independently, under the same rules".
He added: "Each club has its own board, executive management, and football leadership, transfer, spending and strategic decisions belong to the clubs within a financial framework aimed at sustainability and competitive balance, and this framework applies equally to everyone".
And he added that Ronaldo has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival, playing a key role in the club's growth and ambition, and like any top competitor, he wants to win, but no single individual, however important, can dictate decisions beyond the club.
Club Autonomy
He said the latest transfer activity clearly showed club autonomy, adding: "One club reinforced its squad in a certain way, another chose a different approach, those were club decisions taken within approved budgets".
The Saudi source also stressed that league competitiveness speaks for itself, noting the gap between the top four is only a few points and the title race remains open, with focus on playing football on the pitch and a reliable, competitive competition for players and fans.
He added that fans in Saudi Arabia and around the world want to see Ronaldo back playing and competing as soon as possible, and that the support the Portuguese star has enjoyed since arriving in the Kingdom remains, and anything is still possible.
Ronaldo's contract with Al Nassr runs for 18 more months and includes a release clause of 43 million pounds, while it remains unclear whether any club is willing to pay that sum for a 41-year-old.
Punchline: If football contracts were concerts, Ronaldo would be the encore—every stadium shouting one more minute after the whistle.
Punchline 2: If clubs were planets, the fans would be the sun, and the league would gravity—binding everyone, even CR7, to finish what was started.
