The Portuguese superstar forward decided to recuse himself from head coach Jorge Jesus’ squad because Al-Nassr, the second-place team in the Saudi Pro League table, had not made a significant addition before the closure of the window Monday.

Al-Nassr won its fifth consecutive league match to move one point behind unbeaten archrival Al-Hilal, which is reportedly closing in on the acquisition of legendary striker Karim Benzema, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate.

Ronaldo is not injured, ill or out of favour with Jesus, ESPN reported.

Nor does he intend to leave Al-Nassr, which signed him to a lucrative two-year contract extension in June 2025.

According to CBS Sports, senior club officials understand Ronaldo’s vexation with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund that owns Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and two other Pro League sides.

Ronaldo, who turns 41 Thursday, has scored 91 goals in 95 league matches for Al-Nassr since he arrived in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in 2023.

He is the sport’s all-time leading scorer with 961 goals for club and country.