"Cristiano Ronaldo was, as expected, not named on the team sheet for Al-Nassr's game with Al-Riyadh this afternoon. Reports earlier today suggested the Portugal international was effectively on strike after making himself unavailable for the game against Al-Nassr's cross-town rivals. Ronaldo's displeasure is thought to stem from what he perceives to be an imbalance in how the club's majority stakeholder - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund - have backed Al-Nassr compared to the other clubs they own, namely Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad."
"According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the final straw was the news that Ronaldo's former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema was set to join Al-Hilal after failing to negotiate a new deal at Al-Ittihad. Al-Hilal lead the Saudi Pro League by three points from Al-Nassr and Ronaldo seemingly feels it would give their title rivals a helping hand by having Benzema on board."
Cristiano Ronaldo was not named on the team sheet for Al-Nassr's match with Al-Riyadh. He made himself unavailable for the game and was effectively on strike. His displeasure stems from a perceived imbalance in how the Public Investment Fund backs Al-Nassr compared with Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad. The immediate trigger was news that Karim Benzema was set to join Al-Hilal after failing to negotiate a new deal at Al-Ittihad. Al-Hilal lead the Saudi Pro League by three points. Al-Riyadh sit fourth from bottom and have not won since October. Al-Nassr replaced Ronaldo with Abdulrahman Ghareeb; Ayman Yahya replaced Kingsley Coman. Kick-off is 3.15pm UK and the match streams on the Pro League YouTube channel. Al-Riyadh have conceded 38 goals and have not kept a clean sheet in their last 13 games.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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