There are clearly a lot of emotions going on down in the sand in Saudi Arabia. – The highest-paid footballer of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, is furious and refuses to play football. (most people think he can be bothered to line up in the future again) What is said to have triggered a violent reaction from Ronaldo is a text message Karim Benzema is said to have sent after completing his recent transfer from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal.
Ronaldo, the world’s highest-paid footballer at Al-Nassr, went on strike last week after reports surfaced that Benzema was in the process of completing a transfer to Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal. The legendary Portuguese striker, who turned 41 on February 5, believes that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has given preferential treatment to Al-Nassr’s rivals.
“Has received a pay rise and is ready to win“
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You understand the level of the league is miserable when there are constantly matches that are played with results we usually see in handball. Karin Benzema scored a hat-trick on her debut in a match that ended 6 – 0.
Al-Hilal spent large sums of money last summer on Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez, while a €30 million deal was recently struck for 18-year-old French striker Kader Meite. The acquisition of Benzema seemed to be the final straw for Ronaldo, who sat over Al-Nassr’s victories over Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad in protest.
Benzema and Ronaldo spent nine highly successful years together on the pitch for Real Madrid. One of Ronaldo’s best teammates ever, the French striker made 342 appearances alongside the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and was often happy that his teammate could take the centre-back spot at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo is keenly aware that Benzema, even at the age of 38, is still one of the best finishers in world football. But despite Cristiano’s complaints, Benzema secured his transfer to Al-Hilal on February 2.
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Days later, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner marked his debut with a hat-trick as Al-Hilal thrashed Al-Okhdood 6-0. “I’m happy,” Benzema told reporters after the game. “I’m happy because I played well, we played well, we kept a clean sheet and we scored.”
“Thank you to all the fans. We need them in every game. Everyone is kind to me. They give me everything, so when I’m on the field, I give everything to them.”
According to a report by The Telegraph’s chief football writer Sam Wallace, a source close to the Saudi situation revealed that Benzema sent an eyebrow-raised text message to Ronaldo – which, given the circumstances, was presumably received poorly.
It is claimed that Benzema “jokingly remarked that not only had he received a pay rise, but that he was also going to win the title again”. Wallace adds: “One would like to think that he also added a fleeting ‘lol’ at the end, although no one can say for sure. But safe to say that it has triggered a rather dark night of souls for Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo may have just celebrated his 41st birthday, and believes he remains as intensely competitive as ever. However, the fact that he has failed to win the Saudi Pro League since joining Al-Nassr in 2023 will annoy him and may explain why he was opposed to Benzema’s move to this season’s title favourites.
Al-Hilal are currently at the top of the table with 50 points after 20 games, one point ahead of second-placed Al-Nassr and three ahead of third-placed Al-Ahli.
