Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has strongly criticised Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese star refused to play for Al-Nassr in their Saudi Pro League clash against Al Riyadh. Murphy described Ronaldo’s action as selfish and unnecessary, saying the forward appeared to be thinking more about himself than the club he captains.

Ronaldo was absent from Al-Nassr’s 1-0 victory on Monday night, reportedly as a form of protest. Speaking on talkSPORT, journalist Ben Jacobs explained that the situation is linked to Ronaldo’s frustration with the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s strategy, especially the financial backing given to rivals Al-Hilal. Ronaldo is said to be unhappy that Al-Hilal received more funding ahead of the Club World Cup while Al-Nassr received less.

There are also claims that Ronaldo was unhappy about Karim Benzema’s move to Al-Hilal, believing it would have been better for Saudi football if the striker stayed at Al-Ittihad or joined Al-Nassr. However, Benzema completed his transfer to Al-Hilal despite these concerns. The issue has sparked protests among Al-Nassr supporters, who also question the fairness of the league’s funding structure.

Murphy reacted angrily to the explanations, calling Ronaldo’s actions “self-indulgent nonsense.” He sarcastically suggested that Ronaldo could help the club by donating part of his salary if funding was truly the issue. Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in 2022 and signed a contract extension until 2027, is yet to win a major trophy with the club, while rivals Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad have dominated the league in recent seasons.