Cristiano Ronaldo has left Saudi Arabia, coach reveals

Robin Bairner

6 Mar 2026 14:06 GMT
4 min read

Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo has departed Saudi Arabia – with the return of the Real Madrid and Manchester United legend uncertain.

Article continues under the video

Ronaldo’s future in the Pro League has been cast into doubt in recent months due to the player’s unhappiness at other clubs receiving what he feels has been preferential treatment.

Most recently, the 41-year-old has been linked with a spectacular return to the Premier League with Chelsea, but that unlikely switch will have to wait as he has left Saudi to nurse an injury problem in the midst of the USA and Israel’s attacks on Iran.

Current ETV

Cristiano Ronaldo

F (C)

Al-Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo

F (C)

Al-Nassr

ETV Range

€9.4M - €11.5M

Ronaldo injury ‘more serious than expected’

Ronaldo suffered an injury in the 3-1 win over Al-Fayha last week and was replaced after 81 minutes. His premature departure from the game ended a run of CR7 scoring in three successive Pro League games after his February strike ended.

It may be some time before the veteran is seen again in action in Saudi.

“The injury is more serious than expected,” Al-Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus admitted.

“In the last game, Cristiano left with a muscle injury. After the tests he underwent, it became clear that it is a more serious injury than we were expecting. He will miss the upcoming matches against NEOM SC and Al Khaleej.

“He will need rest and recovery. We have therefore decided, in coordination with the medical staff, to send him to Madrid to be treated there. He will need treatment from his personal physiotherapist. We hope he will return soon to help the team.”

What is Ronaldo’s injury and how long will he be out for?

Ronaldo has suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg.

While Al-Nassr have not given an exact recovery timeframe for Real Madrid’s record scorer, it has been forecast by A Bola that he will miss around a month.

Ronaldo is, therefore, highly likely to be ruled out until after the March international break, during which Roberto Martinez will take Portugal across the Atlantic Ocean to face Mexico and the USA in friendly matches.

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store