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Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from Al-Nassr's Saudi Pro League match against Al Riyadh on Monday amid reports he is on strike over the club's lack of transfer activity, according to the Associated Press.
Portuguese media outlet A Bola reported that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is unhappy that Al-Nassr, which is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has not strengthened its squad as it challenges for the league title.
Heading into the game, Al-Nassr was second behind rival Al Hilal, which is also backed by the PIF and has been linked with Ronaldo's former Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema.
Al-Nassr CEO Jose Semedo declined to comment, according to Saudi media.
France icon Karim Benzema swapped one Saudi club for another when joining Al-Hilal from rival Al-Ittihad. The move is widely seen as bad news for Ronaldo.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo has scored 17 goals this season. However, he is still waiting for his first league title since moving to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and has seen his main rival strengthen with the addition of five-time Champions League winner Benzema.
The former Real Madrid striker, a teammate of Ronaldo's at the Spanish giant, led Al-Ittihad to the title last year, as well as the King's Cup.
Al-Hilal is Saudi Arabia's most successful team with 21 league titles and four Asian Championships.
Last year, it stunned Manchester City at the Club World Cup 4-3 and knocked out Pep Guardiola's team.
Coached by two-time Champions League finalist Simone Inzaghi, it represents a major threat to Ronaldo's hopes of being crowned league champion after sparking a wave of top soccer players - including Benzema - to move to the Saudi league.