Al-Nassr Club Cristiano Ronaldo Ready to Join Manchester United after contract termination from Al-Nassr— But Only If Three Serious Conditions Are Met

Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly on a collision course with Saudi Pro League officials after they sanctioned Karim Benzema’s move to Al-Nassr’s fiercest title rivals. The decision has sparked significant tension, with Ronaldo said to be furious over what he views as a lack of comparable investment in his own club.

The Portuguese star was notably absent from Al-Nassr’s narrow 1–0 win over Al-Riyadh on Monday—a victory secured by Sadio Mané that moved the club to within a point of league leaders Al-Hilal, who were held to a draw. Reports suggest Ronaldo chose not to feature as his dispute intensified, having previously attempted to block Benzema’s transfer.

Benzema’s switch to Al-Hilal from Al-Ittihad is now progressing following the termination of his contract, but the move has raised serious doubts about Ronaldo’s long-term future in Saudi Arabia. Questions remain over how the situation will be resolved, whether Ronaldo will escalate his protest, and if any financial repercussions could follow. The controversy has caused widespread unrest across the league.

Adding to the intrigue, Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ittihad are all owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also controls Newcastle United and had initially approved Benzema’s transfer. Benzema’s contract with Al-Ittihad was due to expire in June, with the club seeking to free up wages and squad space as they explore a potential summer move for Mohamed Salah should he leave Liverpool. N’Golo Kanté is also expected to depart for Fenerbahçe.

The 38-year-old French forward has agreed to an 18-month deal with Al-Hilal, having rejected Al-Ittihad’s renewal offer. Sources close to Benzema claim he found the proposal disrespectful, though Saudi officials insist a generous offer was made but no agreement reached. Prior to the move, Benzema had removed himself from Al-Ittihad’s squad and was training alone in preparation for a deadline-day transfer.

Ronaldo is believed to be deeply frustrated that Al-Hilal were allowed to strengthen with Benzema while Al-Nassr received no similar reinforcement. The two clubs are the dominant forces in Saudi football, sharing 19 league titles between them. League officials, however, argue that Al-Nassr have benefited from substantial backing—most notably reflected in Ronaldo’s enormous salary—and maintain the transfer process was handled fairly, despite acknowledging that such a move to a direct rival is unusual.

Ronaldo, who turns 41 on Thursday, joined Al-Nassr from Manchester United in 2022 on a record-breaking £177 million-per-year contract. His only trophy with the club so far is the Arab Club Champions Cup, though he extended his deal last June, committing to the club until at least 2027. He has embraced life in Saudi Arabia and become the league’s global ambassador, famously declaring, “I belong to Saudi Arabia.”

Despite his influence and prolific scoring, domestic success has eluded him, while fellow PIF-owned clubs—Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al-Ahli—have all lifted major trophies. Ronaldo has finished second twice and third once in the league and is determined to finally claim the Saudi title. He has been pushing Al-Nassr to strengthen their squad to close the gap on Al-Hilal.

Ronaldo scored his 17th goal of the season last Friday, taking his career tally to 961—just 39 short of the historic 1,000-goal milestone. Speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards in December, where he was named Best Middle East Player, he reiterated his ambitions: winning trophies and reaching that landmark, provided injuries don’t intervene.

In January, Al-Nassr’s only addition was 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem, while Al-Hilal strengthened with Pablo Marí from Arsenal for £28 million and Mohamed Meïté from Rennes. Although Al-Nassr have spent less on transfers than Al-Hilal during Ronaldo’s time at the club, officials insist the budgets have been similar, with a significant portion naturally allocated to Ronaldo’s wages.

Last summer, Al-Nassr signed João Félix from Chelsea for £43.7 million and brought in Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich—moves reportedly backed by Ronaldo. The club’s leadership structure also reflects his influence, with Portuguese CEO José Semedo and sporting director Simão, both close to Ronaldo, playing key roles behind the scenes.