The Saudi Pro League has put an end to the controversy surrounding the absence of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, from several recent matches, confirming that this is an internal matter for the club and that the league does not interfere. This clarification came from Omar Batterjee, the league's Director of Corporate Communications and Media, in response to growing inquiries about whether the league had contacted the player to ascertain the reasons for his absence.
In an interview with the program “In 90,” Batarji said, “The relationship between the player and his club is a private matter for the club, and we don’t speak on behalf of the clubs.” He added, “Having a player of Cristiano Ronaldo’s stature and value in the Saudi Professional League greatly benefits the Saudi sports project, and his role was pivotal in attracting global attention to the league. No one can deny the player’s global technical and marketing value, but ultimately, the contractual and administrative relationship remains solely between the player and his club.”.
The general context of Ronaldo's transfer and its impact
This controversy comes in the context of the historic transformation the Saudi League has witnessed since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in late 2022. This deal was not just a transfer of a football player, but rather the announcement of a massive sporting project aimed at placing the Saudi League among the top 10 leagues in the world, one of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Ronaldo's transfer paved the way for the arrival of a constellation of international stars such as Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, and others, raising the technical and marketing value of the competition to unprecedented levels.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
The absence of a player of Ronaldo's caliber doesn't just affect his team's performance on the pitch; its impact extends to multiple aspects. Domestically, his absence worries Al-Nassr fans and affects the team's results in competitions. Regionally and internationally, his absence means a potential decrease in global viewership for matches in which he doesn't participate, as a significant portion of new Saudi league followers worldwide tune in specifically to watch the Portuguese legend. The league's statement affirms its commitment to a professional approach in managing relationships with clubs and players, putting an end to speculation and emphasizing that the sports system operates according to clear regulations that respect clubs' autonomy in managing their internal affairs—a crucial element for building a strong and sustainable league in the long term.
