According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo, once a symbol of joy for Al-Nassr fans, has now become a hot topic in Saudi sports circles. He has divided Al-Nassr supporters into two groups: one opposing his continued presence and the other supporting him but demanding better teamwork. Criticism has been raised about his reluctance to take responsibility for defeats while enjoying moments of victory.

In the latest match against Al-Ittihad, Ronaldo sparked controversy with a gesture interpreted as accusing his teammates of “being asleep.” This angered not only Al-Nassr fans but also the club’s management, as it appeared he was shifting blame for the loss onto others. Al-Nassr failed to satisfy their fans, who filled the stadium with over 24,000 spectators, and could not recover from their Asian Champions League semi-final defeat against Kawasaki.

Ronaldo, at 40 years old and a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, faces the tough challenge of leading Al-Nassr to Asian elite status. Al-Nassr trails the league leaders by five points, raising questions about his future, especially since his contract has not yet been renewed.

A large section of Al-Nassr fans and the Saudi sports community criticized Ronaldo’s behavior after conceding the second goal at the start of the second half and his frustration throughout the match. Al-Ittihad won the game 3-2, with all three goals coming in the second half.

Sources confirmed to the Middle East media that Ronaldo’s anger stemmed from a half-time locker room talk. He warned his teammates that Al-Nassr often concedes goals in the second half and opponents recover deficits. Ronaldo reportedly said, “We must defend and attack together, stay focused. Al-Ittihad is an organized and fast team with high motivation to come back. We must unite to win and not concede.” According to sources, this led to Ronaldo blaming others after the second goal.

Stefano Pioli, Al-Nassr’s Italian coach, also warned his players at half-time about Al-Ittihad’s comeback speed and the large gaps between Al-Nassr’s lines. He urged them to tighten their formation to prevent the opponent from creating chances. However, Pioli and captain Ronaldo’s efforts were in vain as Al-Ittihad scored three second-half goals.

Stefano Pioli expressed disappointment with the result, stating that his team had a brilliant first half but conceded two quick goals in the second half. He said, “It’s hard to talk about this match. The first half was excellent, but we conceded two goals in a short time in the second half, and the team collapsed after the Asian exit. The result did not reflect the team’s performance. Sometimes it’s not your day, as happened against Kawasaki. Today we faced a strong team like Al-Ittihad, the league leaders.”

Regarding the absence of Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Aymeric Laporte, Pioli said, “I understand the frustration of defeat, and we sympathize with the fans. Al-Nassr did not deserve to lose today. We played with the best available players. We talk about the full team, not individuals. I always believe hard work improves performance. Today, Al-Nassr created many chances, but we face teams that also fight hard for victory. The result hurt our feelings, but it does not reflect the team’s performance. The Asian exit was painful, but the players reacted positively today. Our focus is now on winning future matches, and mental preparation is crucial in this period. I believe the team did not deserve to lose today and should have at least drawn. The result was unfair. We sympathize with the fans and will work to improve the team and return to winning ways.”