Why Is Benzema’s Al Hilal Transfer Linked to Ronaldo?
Karim Benzema’s high-profile move to Al Hilal has reportedly unsettled his former Real Madrid teammate and current Saudi Pro League (SPL) rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, sparking debate across Saudi football on the final day of the midyear transfer window.
Two of the world’s most celebrated footballers — Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and France’s Karim Benzema — dominated headlines on Monday, not for their performances on the pitch, but for their off-field developments.
Benzema completed a surprise transfer from Al-Ittihad to Al Hilal, with the announcement coming just hours after Ronaldo was left out of Al-Nassr’s SPL match against Al Riyadh.
Why Did Benzema Move From Al-Ittihad to Al Hilal?
Benzema’s move is widely viewed as a strategic and ambitious decision. Al Hilal are the most successful club in Saudi football, boasting 21 league titles and four Asian Champions League trophies, and currently sit at the top of the SPL table.
Although the 38-year-old Ballon d’Or winner helped Al-Ittihad secure the league title last season, he reportedly wanted to join the country’s most dominant club.
Under the guidance of Simone Inzaghi, a two-time UEFA Champions League finalist, Al Hilal have continued to impress on the global stage. They notably defeated Manchester City 4–3 at the FIFA Club World Cup last year, eliminating Pep Guardiola’s side.
Al Hilal officially announced Benzema’s arrival with widespread promotion across their social media platforms.
Why Did Ronaldo Miss Al-Nassr’s Match?
Ronaldo’s absence from Al-Nassr’s league fixture raised eyebrows, with reports suggesting dissatisfaction over his club’s transfer activity.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has scored 17 goals this season, was not included in the squad amid claims that Al-Nassr failed to strengthen their team adequately during the transfer window.
Portuguese outlet A Bola reported that Ronaldo was frustrated by the lack of major signings as Al-Nassr continue their title chase. The club entered the match in second place, trailing leaders Al Hilal by a narrow margin.
Ronaldo reportedly chose to withdraw himself from head coach Jorge Jesus’ squad, citing disappointment with the club’s transfer strategy before the window closed.
How Is Benzema’s Move Linked to Ronaldo?
Benzema’s switch from the former league champions to title favourites Al Hilal is widely seen as a direct threat to Ronaldo’s ambitions of winning his first SPL title.
Ironically, Ronaldo played a key role in attracting elite talent — including Benzema — to Saudi football. However, the strengthening of his closest rival has complicated his own title hopes.
Since joining Al-Nassr in January 2023, Ronaldo has scored an impressive 91 goals in 95 league matches. Yet, at 40 years old, he remains without a league title in Saudi Arabia.
Benzema, meanwhile, led Al-Ittihad to both the SPL title and the King’s Cup last season and has now joined a club already sitting one point ahead of Al-Nassr.
What Have Al-Nassr Said, and Could Ronaldo Leave?
Al-Nassr CEO Jose Semedo declined to comment publicly on the situation.
According to ESPN, Ronaldo is neither injured nor sidelined by the coaching staff, and he has no immediate plans to leave the club. In fact, he signed a two-year contract extension in June 2025.
However, CBS Sports reported that senior club officials are aware of Ronaldo’s frustration, particularly with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which owns Al-Nassr, Al Hilal, and two other SPL clubs.
Can Al-Nassr Still Sign Players to Appease Ronaldo?
The Saudi Pro League’s transfer window closed on Monday night, meaning Al-Nassr will be unable to make further signings until the end of the season.
As a result, any immediate efforts to strengthen the squad — and potentially ease Ronaldo’s concerns — will have to wait.
