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The contract extension, signed last July, runs until 2027, with an estimated daily income of nearly £488,000, placing Ronaldo in an unprecedented position in the history of the Saudi Pro League.
No other player possesses the same professional value and carries the burden of representing a national-level soft power strategy as him.
Image or symbol?
Ronaldo is more than just a striker for Al Nassr. He appears at high-level diplomatic events, meeting with political leaders and powerful businesspeople from around the world.
His statement, "I belong in Saudi Arabia," wasn't just a casual remark. It was a declaration of his role. In the world he was willing to enter, Ronaldo believed he wasn't simply an employee working for wealthy bosses behind the scenes.
Because he has received so much, Ronaldo's expectations are higher than anyone else's. He believes that Al Nassr deserves commensurate investment. He believes that the team bearing his name should be on par with, if not superior to, Al Hilal.
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Ronaldo's role is not simply limited to football. Photo: Reuters . |
And as the January transfer window closed in silence, a feeling of being left out of the spotlight began to develop.
At the same time, Al Hilal – a direct rival and also under the management of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) – completed the signing of Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad. This contrast was enough to trigger a reaction, especially from a player accustomed to being at the pinnacle of power like Ronaldo.
According to A Bola , Ronaldo refused to play in the match against Al Riyadh on February 2nd to protest the transfer policy. Notably, Benzema had previously also gone on strike to pressure for a transfer.
Two big stars, two similar actions, both taking place within a shared ownership system. But it is here that the limits of individual power become apparent.
From a professional standpoint, Ronaldo isn't entirely wrong. He remains central to Al Nassr's style of play, still scores goals, and maintains his performance at the age of 40. But football isn't a one-man show. A squad lacking depth can hardly sustain a long-term race. The gap between individual feel and overall strategy is beginning to widen.
When the disciplined person resists discipline.
Compared to European football, Ronaldo's reaction might be considered familiar. There, a star big enough can exert pressure to force a club to change.
But the Saudi Pro League doesn't operate on that logic. This is a top-down league. Power doesn't lie in the locker room. It lies at the strategic planning level. The PIF didn't build the league around one individual, even if that individual was Ronaldo.
This very paradox puts Ronaldo out of sync. He is celebrated like a king, but has never truly sat on the throne.
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The Portuguese superstar has reached the pinnacle of power. Photo: Reuters . |
The massive investment in football has created an environment where older stars, paid exorbitant salaries, possess unparalleled image power, but are completely dependent on the Saudi Arabian state. Ronaldo and other favored stars enjoy privileges and pampering, but within limits.
Ronaldo was once the epitome of absolute professionalism. Stories of intense training wherever he went are testament to a man obsessed with victory. Thousands of hours of relentless work shaped Ronaldo.
Now, this man obsessed with power and absolute professionalism has decided to defy discipline, speaking out in frustration amidst the overwhelming power surrounding him. His refusal to play shows that Ronaldo has hit a ceiling on his own power. This is no longer just a transfer story, and it's no longer purely about football.
This conflict may or may not be resolved. But the moment Ronaldo stood on the sidelines revealed an undeniable truth. In the desert of power, Ronaldo now realizes he is not the one behind the scenes.
And the question remains: will the stars brought in to elevate the league accept the role of pawns, or will they continue to clash with a pre-established and defined order?
Source: https://znews.vn/khi-ronaldo-cham-gioi-han-quyen-luc-post1625044.html
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