Cristiano Ronaldo has missed a second straight game with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr as he continues his strike.
Ronaldo, 41, returned to training this week but was not in the matchday squad named by boss Jorge Jesus.
The Portuguese forward missed his side’s game against Al Riyadh on Monday but football officials had hoped he would play against Al Ittihad on Friday.
According to Sky Sports News, officials felt Friday’s fixture would be too big to miss and believe his strike is harming the image of the Saudi Pro League (SPL).
It is further reported the five-time Ballon d’Or winner feels his side are not being backed financially as much as their title rivals Al Hilal.
Both clubs are owned by The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia‘s sovereign wealth fund.
Al Nassr recorded their second successive victory without Ronaldo, beating Al Ittihad by 2-0 thanks to goals from Sadio Mane and Angelo Gabriel.
They now lie second in the SPL, one point behind Al Hilal.
Ronaldo is earning a reported £500,000 a day in the Middle East and has 18 months remaining on his deal.
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The Saudi Pro League had publicly warned the ex-Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star before the game.
‘No individual determines decisions beyond their club’
A spokesperson for the SPL said: “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules.
“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.”
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They added: “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.”
