Ronaldo appears to go on strike at Al Nassr as Benzema changes team
By Sky News, February 3, 2026Cristiano Ronaldo appears to have gone on strike at Al Nassr.
Ronaldo was missing from his team’s Saudi Pro League game win over Al Riyadh on Monday, February 2, 2026 – and Sky Sports News have been told the star is unhappy about the running of the club.
Al Nassr are one of four Saudi Pro League clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Ronaldo believes the other three clubs – Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad – are getting preferential treatment, especially in the transfer market.
Al Hilal have enjoyed a fruitful window so far, completing a deal for former Arsenal defender Pablo Mari and have been strongly linked with a Ksh 4.2 billion move for Rennes’ Kader Meite.
Al Hilal have also signed Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad on a free transfer. Benzema, who is reported to earn £1.6m a week (Ksh 308 million per week), was out of contract at Al Ittihad this summer and has signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with his new team.
He felt so insulted by his former club’s contract extension proposal last week that he did not play for them against Al Najma on Sunday.
Sky Sports News’ chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol said:
“Spare a thought for Cristiano Ronaldo, who earns around Ksh 96.5 million a day. But he’s so unhappy at the moment that he didn’t play for his club, Al Nass,r on Monday.
There wasn’t anything wrong with his fitness; he wasn’t rested, and he wasn’t in the squad at all. The reason he didn’t play is that he’s unhappy with the way Al Nassr have been run.
Ronaldo feels that the PIF have been putting more money into Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad than they have into his club, Al Nassr.
Bear in mind, Ronaldo has been in Saudi Arabia and scoring goals for fun – but Al Nassr have not won the title in that time. He thought – in this window – that the club would dig deep, bring in reinforcements and strengthen their squad. He feels that it hasn’t happened.
And that’s why he’s effectively gone on strike.”
Ivan Toney, meanwhile, has turned down the chance to move to Juventus and two Premier League clubs in this window.
Toney is happy and settled at Al Ahli and believes he is fitter and sharper than ever. He has scored 56 times in 72 games for Al Ahli and wants to keep scoring to get into the England squad for the World Cup. Al Ahli signed him from Brentford for £40m (~Ksh 7.7 billion) 18 months ago.