Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to leave Al-Nassr if Mohamed Salah makes the move to Saudi Arabia, with the Portugal star said to be growing increasingly frustrated as he continues his protest at the club.
Ronaldo remains the face of Al-Nassr and the Saudi Pro League’s biggest name, but reports around his future have not gone away. The 39-year-old is still under contract in Riyadh, yet the mood around him has been coloured by ongoing unhappiness behind the scenes.
Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer believes Salah’s arrival in the league could have a direct impact on Ronaldo’s next decision. Speaking to beIN SPORTS, McAteer said: “If Mohamed Salah comes to the Saudi league, I can see Cristiano Ronaldo leaving.”
He added: “He wants to be the poster boy, he wants to be the main man. If somebody else comes in and takes that spotlight, I can see him getting the hump and moving on.”
Salah’s future continues to be a major talking point as the Liverpool forward has been repeatedly linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia. Interest from clubs backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been well documented, and the possibility of a blockbuster move remains in the background as the summer approaches.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, has been described as continuing a “PIF protest” at Al-Nassr. While he has delivered goals since arriving in Saudi Arabia, there is said to be tension over the direction of the project and the level of support around him.
With Saudi football still pushing to attract the biggest stars in the world, Salah would represent another headline signing for the league. But McAteer’s comments suggest that bringing one global icon in could risk upsetting another, especially if Ronaldo feels his status is being challenged.
For now, both situations remain unresolved, but the link between Salah’s potential move and Ronaldo’s future at Al-Nassr is becoming harder to ignore.
