Cristiano Ronaldo commits future to Saudi Arabia following strike
Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted he "belongs to Saudi Arabia" after returning from strike action to help send Al-Nassr to the top of the Pro League table.
The Portugal captain scored twice in a 4-0 victory over Al-Hazem on Saturday, just days after ending a walkout over transfer dealings in the league.
Ronaldo, 41, had missed two matches in protest at the decision to allow Karim Benzema to join title rivals Al-Hilal.
However, the veteran forward has now moved to quell speculation regarding his long-term future in the Middle East.
Ronaldo reaffirms commitment
Speaking after the crucial victory, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner emphasised his happiness in the Gulf state.
"Yeah, I’m very happy. As I say so many times, I belong to Saudi Arabia," Ronaldo said.
"It’s a country that welcomed me and my family and my friends very well. I’m happy here. I want to continue here."
The emphatic result saw the Riyadh-based club leapfrog Al-Hilal to take a one-point lead at the summit of the standings.
Ronaldo’s brace took his career tally to 962 goals, with both strikes assisted by team-mate Kingsley Coman.
"And the most important, it’s we keep pushing. We are there in the top," Ronaldo added.
"Our job is to win, make pressure [on our title rivals], and let’s see. We are on track. We’re back; we are good; we are confident."
Dispute over Benzema transfer
The forward’s return to the starting line-up follows a period of significant tension between the player and the club’s ownership.
The former Manchester United star had refused to play in protest against the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which controls the league’s top clubs.
His frustration stemmed from the PIF sanctioning the transfer of Benzema from Al-Ittihad to direct rivals Al-Hilal.
Despite the controversy, Al-Nassr manager Jorge Jesus defended the economic reality of the league.
"I’ve been on the other side [at Al-Hilal], so I know what that’s like," Jesus said.
"They have more economic power. Al-Nassr, with different resources, has to compete for the top spots."
Following the match, Ronaldo wore a traditional bisht to honour Saudi Arabia’s Founding Day, further underlining his position as the face of the sport in the region.