Omanghana
Former Al-Nassr midfielder Fahad Al-Harifi has called for Cristiano Ronaldo to leave the Saudi club following its humiliating 4-0 defeat to Al-Ain in the opening round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
Speaking on the Saudi television programme Doreena Ghair, Al-Harifi delivered a strong criticism of the Al-Nassr captain, arguing that the club should place its sporting interests above the reputation of any individual player.
He claimed Ronaldo had “added nothing” to the team and questioned whether the Portuguese forward continued to provide the sporting and commercial benefits expected when he joined the Riyadh-based club in January 2023.
Al-Harifi also accused the five-time Ballon d’Or winner of becoming increasingly focused on reaching 1,000 career goals rather than advancing Al-Nassr’s collective ambitions. He urged the club’s management to take decisive action if it believed Ronaldo was no longer contributing sufficiently to its long-term objectives.
The criticism followed a difficult night for Al-Nassr at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, where Al-Ain secured a commanding victory through two goals from Houssine Rahimi and further strikes from Soufiane Rahimi and Giorgos Giakoumakis. Ronaldo had few opportunities to influence the match as the Saudi side struggled in attack and defense.
Al-Harifi’s assessment, however, does not fully reflect Ronaldo’s statistical and trophy record at the club. The forward scored 129 goals in his first 148 appearances for Al-Nassr and played a major role in the team’s 2025–26 Saudi Pro League triumph.
Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Damac on the final day of that season, helping Al-Nassr finish two points above Al-Hilal and claim its first league championship since 2019. It was Ronaldo’s first Saudi league title after joining the club.
Al-Nassr head coach Ange Postecoglou has also defended his captain, praising Ronaldo’s professionalism and insisting that responsibility for the team’s shortcomings rests with the coach rather than individual players.
The dispute reflects growing pressure on Al-Nassr following its poor start to the continental campaign. Despite its domestic success and significant investment in international players, the club continues to pursue the major Asian title that has so far remained beyond Ronaldo and his teammates.
Source: Omanghana
