Cristiano Ronaldo reverses stance, sets return date for Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo has chosen to stop boycotting Al Nassr games, according to information shared with ESPN Brasil.

The 41-year-old player missed two matches for the club in the Saudi Pro League, including the 2-0 victory over Al Ittihad and the win against Al Riyadh last week. According to ESPN Brasil, the Portuguese national team captain announced he will return to play in the match against Al Fateh on February 15 (Vietnam time).

Al Nassr is also scheduled to play on February 11 away at Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two. ESPN previously reported that Ronaldo missed two games due to dissatisfaction with the PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund) and how it supported the club during the transfer window.

Ronaldo witnessed his club’s major rival, Al Hilal, which is also 75% owned by PIF, sign Karim Benzema, his former Real Madrid teammate, from Al Ittihad during the January transfer window. According to reports, Ronaldo agreed to return to play after his main demands were met by PIF.

The Portuguese star stated that he will come back on the field once the governing body settles Al Nassr’s outstanding salary payments and restores management autonomy to the club’s senior executives. Consequently, Simão Coutinho (sports director) and José Semedo (CEO), who had been suspended by PIF, were reinstated according to sources.

Last week, the Saudi Pro League issued a statement warning Ronaldo that no player is allowed to interfere in decisions beyond their team's scope. The statement read: “The Saudi Pro League is founded on a straightforward principle: every club operates independently under the same set of rules.”

“Clubs have their own boards, executive teams, and football management structures. Decisions regarding recruitment, spending, and strategy belong to each club within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. This framework applies equally to all teams in the league.”