Cristiano Ronaldo’s coach at Al Nassr, Jorge Jesus, has spoken about the financial situation at the Saudi club that saw his star player go on strike earlier in the month.
Ronaldo returned after having missed two games - against Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad - due to a strike over the club’s lack of action and investment during the recent winter transfer window. Al Nassr are one of four clubs in the Saudi Pro League partly owned by the Public Investment Fund, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, which is worth an estimated US$941 billion.
“Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition,” a league statement said in response to his strike. “Like any elite competitor, he wants to win. But no individual -- however significant -- determines decisions beyond their own club.
Saturday’s 2-0 league win at Al-Fateh marked Ronaldo’s return to the team in which he scored the opening goal.
“I’ve been at Al Hilal, I know what that’s like”
After the game, Al Nassr coach Jorge Jesus spoke to the media and chose to address the financial situation at the club that has seen so much recent media coverage.
“I’ve already been at Al Hilal, I’ve been on the other side, so I know what that’s like,” Jesus said. “I’ve already benefited from it. They have more economic power. When I was there, I benefited as a coach. It’s normal. Al Nassr, with different resources, has to compete for the top spots. We have to continue to be strong.”
“That’s why I was hired, to reduce the gap between Al Hilal and Al Nassr, in terms of titles and points,” he added. “And that’s what we’re doing. We have a lot of confidence in Al Nassr’s structure, a structure that, little by little, is increasingly managing to balance the group.
“But not only the group of players who play, but also a group off the field, a team that is aware of the difficulties, a team that knows it will be fighting against opponents with greater economic power, not sporting power.” Al Nassr are second in the league after 21 games this season, just one point behind leaders Al Hilal.