Cristiano Ronaldo to miss second Al Nassr game amid protest as Jorge Jesus skips media | OneFootball

Cristiano Ronaldo will sit out a second successive Al Nassr match, missing Friday’s 17:30 home meeting with Al Ittihad. According to Glorioso 1904, his absence extends a protest that began on Monday when he did not feature against Al Riyadh.

For the second time running, Jorge Jesus did not face the media, cancelling the mandatory pre-match press conference. Under the Saudi league’s communication rules, that decision risks a hefty fine.

TV pundit Pedro Sousa said the protest is linked first to delayed wages at Al Nassr and, secondly, to a January spending gap, with Al Hilal investing €92 million and Al Nassr €300,000.

Sousa also stated that Jorge Jesus is fully supportive of Ronaldo. He said senior players Mané, Brozović, Coman, João Félix and Iñigo Martínez back him, understanding the club’s situation.

He believed some thought a league statement would make Ronaldo relent. Instead, he argued the issue will be discussed worldwide, and that Ronaldo’s objective, in the team’s interests, has been met.

Source: Glorioso 1904