Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Al-Nassr on Saturday after missing three games due to worries over his future with the Saudi club.
And the Portuguese captain marked his homecoming by scoring after 18 minutes in a 2-0 win over Al-Fateh.
The 41-year-old was apparently dissatisfied with how the club was managed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
As a result, the Saudi Pro League stated that “no individual, no matter how significant, makes decisions beyond their own club.”
Al-Nassr had teased his homecoming on social media, posting a photo of the captain’s armband next to Ronaldo’s shirt in their dressing room.
Ronaldo relocated to the Middle East in December 2022, shortly after his contract with Manchester United was dissolved through mutual consent.
He became the highest-paid football player in history, earning £177 million per year.
However, Al-Nassr, 10-time league champions, have only won the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023 since he joined.
Ronaldo’s displeasure stems from his former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema’s move to league leaders Al-Hilal from Al-Ittihad, according to BBC Sport. He signed a new two-year contract in June.
The PIF also runs Al-Hilal, which is currently leading the Saudi Pro League table by one point over Al-Nassr in second place.
