Cristiano Ronaldo protests perceived unfair treatment after Benzema’s move, while N’Golo Kanté refuses to train in a dramatic window that has exposed internal tensions.
The Saudi Pro League’s deadline day has spiraled into crisis, with the league’s two biggest clubs in upheaval and star players Cristiano Ronaldo and N’Golo Kanté going on strike in protest.
The turmoil was triggered by Karim Benzema’s controversial last-minute transfer from Al-Ittihad to rivals Al-Hilal. The move came after the reigning champions offended the former Ballon d’Or winner with a contract renewal offer that included his image rights but, bizarrely, no salary. A furious Benzema informed Al-Ittihad he would no longer play for them, leading to a swift 1.5-year deal with Al-Hilal.
The fallout has been immediate and severe. At Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo declared himself unavailable for Monday’s match, protesting what he sees as preferential treatment for Al-Hilal by the league’s financial backer, the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Ronaldo, who has yet to win a major trophy in Saudi Arabia, is reportedly frustrated that his own club did not strengthen their squad in January while Al-Hilal made major signings.
Senior figures are baffled by Ronaldo’s anger, however, as sources clarify that Al-Hilal’s deal for Benzema was privately funded by billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, not by special PIF allocation. Clubs operate within a set budget, and any extra spending must come from their own resources. Al-Nassr, which lacks a similar billionaire backer, spent heavily in the summer but made no major January signings.
League officials are now trying to convince Ronaldo to end his strike before Al-Nassr’s next match against Al-Ittihad, but his future at the club appears uncertain amid reports of a €50 million release clause.
Meanwhile, at Al-Ittihad, World Cup winner N’Golo Kanté is pushing for an exit after a proposed move to Fenerbahce collapsed due to the club’s failure to complete paperwork for a replacement signing. Kanté refused to train on Tuesday and continues to seek a move to Turkey, where the transfer window remains open.
The January window, which closed concurrently with Europe’s for the first time, has ended with the league’s flagship clubs in disarray and its star players in revolt, dealing a significant blow to the project’s global image.
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