BREAKING: CR7 returns to Al-Nassr amid Benzima preferential treatment claim
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BREAKING: CR7 returns to Al-Nassr amid Benzima preferential treatment claim
Portuguese football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo arrived at Al Nassr’s training ground on Wednesday afternoon, two hours ahead of the scheduled session, signalling a potential end to his recent absence from the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, was spotted at the club base at 1:30 PM local time, preparing for training ahead of Friday’s clash against Al Ettifaq.
Ronaldo’s absence in recent matches, including Al Nassr’s 20th-round game against Al Riyadh, sparked widespread speculation. Reports suggested that the striker had refused to play following Karim Benzema’s high-profile transfer to league rivals Al Hilal, citing concerns over preferential treatment from Saudi authorities.
His decision has raised questions about fairness in the league and the influence of the Kingdom’s Ministry of Sport and private investment in club transfers.
Al Nassr manager Jorge Jesus, who previously coached Al Hilal, has remained cautious in public statements, mirroring Ronaldo’s frustrations.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal continue to spend heavily, recently acquiring Benzema and Darwin Nunez, reportedly with backing from billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
Since Ronaldo’s arrival, Al Hilal’s transfer expenditure has reached €647 million, compared with €410 million by Al Nassr, highlighting the widening financial gap.
It is left to be seen if Ronaldo will feature against Al Ettifaq on Friday
