"If I can go to the club world cup, I should go."
Al Nassr drew 1-1 with Al Tai in the 32nd round of the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League held in Riyadh on the 17th. With 64 points, Al Nassr has fallen to fourth place, behind third-place Al Qubba (65 points).
There is a crisis. With two league games remaining, Al Nassr's qualification for the elite Asian Champions League, granted to the top three, is uncertain.
In a life-and-death crisis, Ronaldo missed two consecutive games due to a cold. Even in Saudi Arabia, there are suspicious looks as Ronaldo is absent from the most important matches for unclear reasons.
After the match, coach Pioli publicly expressed disappointment over Ronaldo's absence, saying, "We missed too many chances. Ronaldo's absence due to a cold affected the entire team."
Since Ronaldo's arrival, Al Nassr has failed to win any trophies. The anticipated Ronaldo effect for conquering Asia has proven to be less impactful than expected.
Global 'beIN Sports' reported on the 16th, "Cristiano Ronaldo is now likely to leave Al Nassr early due to contract issues with his team," noting that "the extension contract being pursued is at high risk of falling through due to conflicts with the club, and he is likely to push for a return to his former team Sporting (Portugal)."
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia after leaving Manchester United in 2023. He scored 91 goals in 103 games, consistently becoming the top scorer in the Saudi league. However, despite his impressive personal records, the team has yet to lift any trophy.
Al Nassr, completely outclassed in competition with Al Hilal, has not lifted any trophies recently despite the signing of Ronaldo. Notably, after losing 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the semifinals of the 2024-2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE), criticism of Ronaldo has intensified.
This ACLE was held as a single match in Saudi Arabia. Considering the significant power gap against East Asian teams, the defeat against Kawasaki shocked Al Nassr fans greatly. Ronaldo, who suffered a shocking upset against Kawasaki, shed hot tears and became a target of ridicule. After the match, Ronaldo posted emotional remarks, saying, "Sometimes you have to wait to fulfill your dreams. I am proud of our team, which poured everything on the field to get this far."
However, fans have reached their limit. Al Nassr has not won any trophies since Ronaldo's arrival. Fans reacted sharply, saying, "We need to think about performance, not money," "Our team's defense is garbage," "Ronaldo, please defend a bit," "Don't pay Ronaldo that salary," "We won't win with Ronaldo," and "I'm fed up. It's time for people to realize."
Initially, Al Nassr was preparing to re-sign Ronaldo for more than 500 million euros (781.7 billion won) for two years. However, due to consecutive failures to win trophies and a lack of commitment, he is currently facing significant criticism.
Meanwhile, rumors of a transfer to the Brazilian league have emerged following Sporting. Spanish 'Marca' explained, "Ronaldo has received transfer offers from Brazilian Serie A teams participating in the Club World Cup, including Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, and Botafogo. One of those clubs could recruit Ronaldo with a contract that includes substantial funding from external investors."
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