Former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has sat out the club's past two games. The Portuguese claims the reason for this is the perceived favouritism shown by the Public Investment Fund in supporting Al-Hilal in the winter market compared to Al-Nassr.
High-profile TV pundit Walid Al-Faraj has slammed Ronaldo, declaring: . "Cristiano Ronaldo must know his place. This country is called Saudi Arabia, not Ronaldo's Arabia.
"He's confusing being an ambassador with being a footballer.
"It was a disappointment. He's an employee, he earns a million-dollar salary, more than anything he's earned in Europe, and he has to respect the league. Otherwise, he should leave.
"Imagine a Manchester City or Arsenal player refusing to play in protest. In the Premier League, that would be unthinkable."
Then Al-Faraj added: "Ronaldo owes a lot to Saudi Arabia. Without the Kingdom's delegation, he would never have entered the White House."
And he concludes, sarcastically, quoting Donald Trump: "We could give him 500 years, and he wouldn't walk through that door."