Karim Benzema has made waves by transferring from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal, a move that has reportedly upset Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo chose not to participate in Al-Nassr’s game against Al-Riyadh on Monday, allegedly due to frustrations over the club’s reluctance to invest heavily in new players.

This transfer is particularly stinging for Ronaldo as Al-Hilal, currently leading the Saudi Pro League by just one point over Al-Nassr, has managed to acquire one of his former Real Madrid teammates.

Reports indicate that Ronaldo is discontent with the fact that Al-Hilal’s net spending since the 2022-23 season exceeds Al-Nassr’s by £180 million, a period that coincides with his arrival at the club.

While Al-Hilal appears poised to claim their second league championship in three years, Ronaldo continues his quest for a major title in the Middle East.

Cristiano Ronaldo has lost his transfer war after hitting out at Al-Nassr’s lack of spending 

Karim Benzema has signed for their title rivals Al-Hilal, who are also controlled by the Saudi Public Investment Fund 

Ronaldo, pictured with Benzema at Real Madrid, embraced life in Saudi Arabia after his move

Following the game on Monday, Al-Nassr’s management prohibited manager Jorge Jesus and the players from making any public comments, as tensions remain high due to Ronaldo’s grievances, according to the Portuguese publication A Bola.

It all marks a worrying shift for Saudi football bosses after a gluttonous few years in which they have been able to get their way with some of the sport’s biggest stars. 

Ronaldo, who aged 40 is on a contract worth £488,000 per day, is said by A Bola to be unhappy with how Saudi Arabia’s PIF have handled Al-Nassr’s finances.

The worst-case scenario for them is that Ronaldo leaves before his contract expires in 2027. In December, he hinted that he could finish his career elsewhere, saying: ‘my passion is high and I want to continue. 

‘It doesn’t matter where I play, whether in the Middle East or Europe.’ 

During the January window, the only player signed by Al-Nassr was 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem, while Al-Hilal have lured Spanish centre back Pablo Mari for £1.7m and spent a further £26m on Rennes forward Kader Meite.

Simone Inzaghi’s side also finalised another £26m move for Neom star Saimon Bouabre.

Last month, Al-Nassr boss Jorge Jesus called out the financial inequality and argued that Al-Nassr ‘does not have the political power of Al-Hilal’, a team he previously managed. 

Ronaldo went on strike in Al-Nassr’s last match over the lack of equal spending (pictured with Benzema in September)

Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez are very settled after purchasing two villas in the exclusive Nujuma Ritz-Carlton Reserve on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast

He became football’s first ever billionaire thanks to his two-year £492m Saudi contract

His explosive remarks prompted Al-Hilal to request that the Saudi Pro League suspend Jesus for between six months and a year.

Meanwhile, Benzema’s case is a startling example of the Saudi moneybags being told to reach deeper into their pockets by one of their prized players.

ESPN reported that the 38-year-old trained away from the group at Al-Ittihad in protest over an ‘insulting’ contract extension offer on Thursday last week. 

He removed himself from the matchday squad which drew 2-2 at Al-Fateh last week, and within four days he has become an Al-Hilal player. 

The striker had moved to Al-Ittihad in 2023 in a blockbuster deal that put his salary at a not-so-insulting £1.61million per week – or just over £230,000 per day. 

Curiously, the Benzema is believed to have accused the club of making him ‘play for free’ at the start of the contract, with the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner only able to profit from his image rights.

Ronaldo and Benzema were highly decorated team-mates at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018, when the former left for Juventus. 

The duo won 15 trophies together at Los Blancos, including four Champions League crowns and two LaLiga titles.  

Elsewhere, N’Golo Kante is closing in on a move from Al-Ittihad to Fenerbahce, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The midfielder, 34, is thought on around £21.6m per year in Saudi Arabia but Turkey has become increasingly alluring for stars of all ages. 

Turkey’s major clubs now boast some huge names including Victor Osimhen, Jhon Duran, Leroy Sane, and Ederson.