Christiano Ronaldo might have disappeared from the field again, but his shadow loomed large Al-Nassr Another turbulent night behind us. Even as the Portuguese star dominated headlines for his continued impasse, a new issue emerged regarding his second arrival in the winter: Abdullah Al-Hamdan – one that has drawn both Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad into an unexpected dispute and added new pressure on the club.
At first glance, Al-Nassr appeared to be stabilizing. A strong performance, a clean sheet and growing unity among the fans indicated resilience. But behind the scenes, a new controversy was quietly forming, one that threatened to complicate matters far beyond Cristiano Ronaldo’s self-imposed strike.
The veteran’s decision to miss a second straight match in the Saudi Pro League continued to dominate the narrative. His absence against Al-Ittihad was not due to injury or fitness concerns, but rather a calculated protest aimed at the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) dealings with elite clubs.
Ronaldo scored 91 goals in 95 league matches since joining Al-Nassr, making his refusal to play impossible to ignore. Despite returning to training, he was left out of the matchday squad entirely, indicating that tensions remain unresolved. ‘Ronaldo is not angry with Al-Nassr’ Fabrizio Romano reported. “His problem is about the way the PIF manages and prioritises certain clubs.” That distinction is echoed by the Portuguese media, which has consistently characterized the conflict as institutional rather than personal.
Al Nassar striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
The real storm breaks: the Al-Hamdan controversy
While attention remained focused on Ronaldo, a quieter but potentially explosive issue emerged in midweek. Al-Hilal has officially filed a complaint regarding the termination of Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s contractarguing that the striker’s deal was still valid when he appeared for Al-Nassr.
According to ArriyadiyahAccording to the club, the termination was contrary to regulations because the contract expired on Friday, February 6the same day Al-Hamdan played in the league match. The Blue Waves claim that the player unilaterally terminated his contract by emaila move they describe as an attempt to circumvent competition rules. Late on the final evening of the winter transfer window, Al-Nassr announced that Al-Hamdan had signed on a free transfer – a decision that is now coming under scrutiny.
Al-Ittihad intervenes in the dispute
The situation then escalated further Al-Ittihad also filed an official protestquestioning Al-Hamdan’s fitness to play against them in the match. Saudi journalist Ahmed Al-Ajlan confirmed that the protest had been lodged with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), further inflaming the already tense rivalry. The core of the problem is timing. The expiry date of the 26-year-old striker’s contract and his immediate registration with Al-Nassr created a legal gray area – one rival club believes should be closely scrutinized.
Despite the increasing noise, Al-Nassr reportedly remains calm. Journalist Ali Al-Anzi confirmed that all official approvals were secured and that Al-Hamdan’s participation was completely legal. “Abdullah Al-Hamdan’s registration is 100% legitimate,” Al-Anzi stated and added that no sanctions are expected for the club.
Another reliable insider, Abdulaziz Al-Osaimiclarified that any possible violation would only apply to the playernot against Al-Nassr – a crucial distinction that could protect the club from sports penalties.
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