Cristiano Ronaldo has ended speculation about his future by declaring his commitment to Al-Nassr following a controversial absence from the Saudi club.
The Portuguese forward netted twice in Saturday's emphatic 4-0 triumph against Al-Hazem, a result that propelled Jorge Jesus's side to the summit of the Saudi Pro League.
The Portuguese icon also wore a traditional bisht after Saturday's match to mark Saudi Arabia's Founding Day.
Speaking after the match, the 41-year-old was unequivocal about his intentions.
Ronaldo said: "I'm very happy. As I say so many times, I belong to Saudi Arabia.
"It's a country that welcomed me, my family and my friends very well. I'm happy here. I want to continue here."
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had made himself unavailable for three matches, missing fixtures against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad before returning against Al-Fateh last weekend.
His absence was widely understood as a protest against the Public Investment Fund's handling of the January transfer business.
The Portuguese icon also wore a traditional bisht after Saturday's match
|REUTERS
Ronaldo was reportedly frustrated after watching the PIF sanction Karim Benzema's move from Al-Ittihad to title rivals Al-Hilal, strengthening a direct competitor while Al-Nassr's squad received minimal reinforcement.
The club's only winter signing was Iraqi midfielder Haydeer Abdulkareem, despite manager Jorge Jesus publicly calling for additional players.
Jesus has acknowledged that Al-Hilal possess greater "economic power" than his current employers.
The victory carried historic significance beyond the title race, as Ronaldo became the first footballer to register 500 official goals after turning 30.
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Cristiano Ronaldo has ended speculation about his future
|REUTERS
His brace against Al-Hazem lifted his season tally to 21 goals, placing him firmly in contention for a third consecutive Golden Boot in Saudi Arabia.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star currently sits one goal behind Julian Quinones and three adrift of Ivan Toney in the race for top scorer honours.
Ronaldo continues to pursue his target of 1,000 career goals, with his overall tally now standing at 962.
The Saudi Pro League issued a pointed statement during Ronaldo's absence.
The Portuguese forward netted twice in Saturday's emphatic 4-0 triumph against Al-Hazem
|REUTERS
It emphasised that "no individual - however significant - determines decisions beyond their own club".
The governing body stressed that clubs operate independently within an established financial framework designed to ensure competitive balance.
Al-Nassr now lead the table by a single point over Al-Hilal, with the top four separated by just a handful of points.
Ronaldo appears to have refocused his attention on matters on the pitch, though speculation about his future is expected to persist through to the 2026 World Cup and beyond.
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