Cristiano Ronaldo came under fresh scrutiny following Al-Nassr's 2-1 defeat to Al-Ittihad in a crucial Saudi Roshn League clash, with Al-Hilal legend Sami Al-Jaber publicly questioning whether the club should consider replacing the Portuguese forward. The loss on Saturday evening ended Al-Nassr's four-game winning streak and left them second on 12 points, three behind league leaders Al-Hilal.
Al-Jaber's intervention came after former Al-Nassr player Hussein Abdulghani criticized Ronaldo's lack of impact in the summit encounter. Abdulghani argued that the 39-year-old cannot remain a permanent starter indefinitely. Rather than defend the veteran attacker, Al-Jaber drew a parallel to how Al-Hilal handled Karim Benzema, who departed the Saudi club after his form declined. "Why did Al-Nassr not think about signing a strong striker?" Al-Jaber asked, highlighting that Al-Hilal replaced Benzema by recruiting Ollie Watkins to bolster their attack. He emphasized that institutional stability matters more than individual names, cautioning against building long-term strategy around any single player, regardless of stature.
Debate Over Ronaldo's Role in Saudi League
Not all observers agreed with Al-Jaber's assessment. Al-Ittihad legend Mohamed Noor countered that Ronaldo's situation and commercial value to Saudi football cannot be equated with Benzema's trajectory. Noor stressed that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner occupies a fundamentally different standing within the league and his club than the Frenchman did when his performances waned.
The defeat represents a significant setback for Al-Nassr's title ambitions. Al-Ittihad climbed to fourth place on 11 points while maintaining their unbeaten record, applying pressure on both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal as the season develops. Al-Nassr will seek redemption when they host Abha on Wednesday, while Al-Ittihad welcome Al-Fayha on Tuesday, offering both sides immediate opportunities to respond.
The debate surrounding Ronaldo's future contributions highlights the broader challenge facing Saudi clubs: balancing star power with tactical flexibility and long-term competitiveness in an increasingly competitive domestic competition.
