Saudi Arabia responds to Ronaldo.

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) organizers issued a statement responding to the controversy surrounding superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's refusal to play.

Saudi Arabia responds to Ronaldo's strike.

In its announcement, the SPL emphasized that the league's structure is based on the principle that each club operates independently but adheres to the same financial and governance regulations. Accordingly, each team has its own leadership, operational department, and professional direction.

All decisions regarding player recruitment, spending, and development strategies are made independently by each club within a common financial framework to ensure sustainability and a balanced competition.

The league organizers stated: "Ronaldo has always played a crucial role in the development and ambitions of Al Nassr since joining the club." However, the SPL emphasized that no individual, no matter how influential, can influence decisions outside the scope of the team they play for.

The league statement said that recent transfer activity clearly demonstrates the independence of the clubs. Each team has a different approach to squad building, depending on their approved strategy and budget.

Ronaldo was unhappy with Karim Benzema's move to Al Hilal.

Earlier, Sky Sports reported that senior Saudi Arabian football officials were surprised by Ronaldo's strong reaction, especially given his estimated daily income of £500,000. Saudi Arabian football leaders are reportedly urging Ronaldo to end his strike and return to playing soon.

Saudi Arabian owners also stated that Karim Benzema's transfer to Al Hilal was not funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) or the league organizers, but rather by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's money. This means Al Hilal could have sought private investors to strengthen their squad instead of relying solely on the PIF.

Meanwhile, Al Hilal CEO Esteve Calzado also commented on Ronaldo's reaction. He emphasized that Al Nassr also had a notable transfer window, signing players like Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman.

Calzado also explained that Al Hilal's signing of Benzema stemmed from the need to strengthen their attacking options and the opportunity that arose when the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner unexpectedly expressed a desire to leave. He argued that the competition and passion for football in Saudi Arabia are growing stronger than initially expected.

The moves from SPL and Al Hilal show that the league organizers want to affirm the transparency and independence of the operating system, at a time when Ronaldo's future at Al Nassr is still attracting significant attention from the media and fans.

Ronaldo's brace: On the night of December 27th, Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix shone brightly, helping Al Nassr defeat Al Okhdood 3-0 in the 11th round of the Saudi Pro League.

Source: https://znews.vn/saudi-arabia-dap-tra-ronaldo-post1625691.html