Cristiano Ronaldo has ignited fresh speculation regarding his future at Al-Nassr, following a pointed five-word comment that notably avoided mentioning his current club.
Despite recently signing a staggering £492 million contract extension, the 41-year-old’s relationship with the club’s hierarchy has come under scrutiny. After a brief “strike” where he sat out back-to-back games in February, Ronaldo returned to the pitch in clinical form—but his words off the pitch are what have fans talking.
The “Five-Word” Mystery
Speaking to Thmanyah Sports, Ronaldo reinforced his commitment to his current home, but with a telling linguistic shift.
“I belong to Saudi Arabia,” Ronaldo stated.
By naming the country rather than Al-Nassr, analysts suggest the Portuguese icon may be opening the door for a move to a Saudi Pro League rival—potentially following in the footsteps of Karim Benzema, who recently made a shock winter switch between PIF-owned clubs.
The “Strike” and the Benzema Factor
The tension reportedly stems from the Public Investment Fund (PIF)’s decision to greenlight Karim Benzema’s high-profile transfer between Al-Nassr’s rivals. Ronaldo was said to be unhappy with the move, leading to his temporary refusal to play against Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad earlier this month.
Since his return, Ronaldo has been unstoppable:
- Form: 4 goals and 1 assist in just 3 matches.
- Season Total: 21 goals (League Top Scorer).
The Title Race Pressure
Ronaldo is desperate for his first Saudi Pro League title after finishing 2nd, 2nd, and 3rd in his previous seasons. Currently, the race is razor-thin:
- Al-Nassr: 1st Place (Current Leaders).
- Al-Hilal: 3rd Place (Only 3 points behind).
- Al-Ahli: 2nd Place (Sandwiched in between).
With only 11 fixtures remaining, the pressure is on manager Jorge Jesus to deliver the trophy. If Al-Nassr fails to secure the title again, Ronaldo’s “belonging to the country” rather than the club could lead to the biggest transfer tug-of-war in Saudi history this summer.
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
