Cristiano Ronaldo Still in Saudi Arabia Despite Private Jet Exit as Al-Nassr Give Update
Speculation that Cristiano Ronaldo had left Saudi Arabia emerged after his private jet was seen touching down in Madrid on Monday, with Al-Nassr's next game having been postponed due to regional security concerns.
Private Jet Movement Sparks Rumours
Ronaldo's luxury private jet departed Riyadh, where his club Al-Nassr are based, on Monday and landed in Madrid at nearly 1am. This occurred on the same night drones attacked the US embassy in Riyadh, as the conflict in the Middle East entered its fourth day following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The Portuguese superstar's aircraft, which he purchased for an eye-watering £61 million, left Saudi Arabia, sparking widespread speculation that Ronaldo himself had fled the region amid escalating tensions.
Al-Nassr Training Session Confirms Presence
However, it appears that the former Manchester United icon is still in Saudi Arabia. On Tuesday afternoon, Al-Nassr shared images of their players, including Ronaldo, participating in a training session, effectively quashing rumours of his departure.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner played 81 minutes and missed a penalty during Al-Nassr's 3-1 win away to Al-Fayha on Saturday. Ronaldo was spotted using an ice pack after being substituted, but manager Jorge Jesus played down fears that his captain had sustained an injury.
"He felt muscular fatigue," Jesus said post-match. "After we made it 2-1, I didn't want to risk it and I replaced him. The medical department will assess his condition, but what he felt was just muscle fatigue."
Match Postponements and Regional Impact
As a direct result of the security situation, Al-Nassr's next match on Wednesday has been postponed. Ronaldo, 41, and his team-mates were due to face Dubai side Al-Wasl in the Asian Champions League quarter-finals.
All Saudi Pro League fixtures this week are currently scheduled to proceed as planned, with Al-Nassr due to host Neom this Saturday. Nevertheless, other sporting events across the region have been significantly affected by the ongoing conflict.
In the United Arab Emirates, another nation targeted by Iran, players at an ATP Challenger tennis tournament were forced to evacuate the court following a drone attack nearby. The ATP subsequently announced that play had been suspended indefinitely.
Broader Sporting and Political Context
Meanwhile, Iran's women's football team notably refused to sing their country's national anthem against South Korea in Australia on Monday, highlighting the political tensions spilling into sports.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence confirmed that their US embassy in Riyadh had been attacked by two drones controlled by Iran. The attack, they stated, resulted in "a limited fire and minor material damage to the building."
This incident underscores the volatile security landscape in the Middle East, which continues to disrupt both diplomatic activities and major sporting schedules, including those involving high-profile athletes like Cristiano Ronaldo.
