Cristiano Ronaldo has moved to reaffirm his commitment to Al Nassr and the Saudi Pro League, insisting he feels fully at home in the kingdom despite a recent stand-off that kept him out of two league matches.

The Portuguese star, now in the twilight of a glittering career, missed consecutive victories over Al Riyadh and Al Ittihad after what sources described as a dispute with the club’s backers over financial support and sporting ambition. At the heart of the tension, according to people familiar with the situation, was Ronaldo’s frustration that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had not matched the investment seen at rival clubs, particularly Al Hilal, who aggressively strengthened their squad and pursued several global stars.

Ronaldo’s absence was interpreted by many as a pointed message about Al Nassr’s competitiveness. Behind the scenes, he was said to be pushing for overdue salaries to be settled and for greater authority to be returned to trusted club executives Simão Coutinho and José Semedo, figures he believes are crucial to building a winning structure around him.

Once those conditions were largely met, Ronaldo returned to the pitch with characteristic impact. He scored on his comeback against Al Fateh, then followed up with a brace in a 4-0 win over Al Nazem that propelled Al Nassr to the top of the table and underlined his enduring influence on the title race.

Speaking to Saudi broadcaster Thmanyah, Ronaldo was emphatic about his bond with his adopted home. “I’m very happy. As I say many times, I belong to Saudi Arabia,” he said. “It’s a country that welcomes very well to me, to my family and friends. I’m happy here, I want to continue here.”

On the pitch, his focus is fixed on the championship run-in. “The most important is we keep pushing, we’re there at the top,” he said. “We do our job, win, make pressure and let’s see at the end of the season. We are on track, we are back, we are good, we have confidence. I’m very proud.”

Ronaldo signed a two-year contract extension last June, tying him to Al Nassr until the summer of 2027. For now, both player and club are aligned: Saudi Arabia is not just a lucrative final chapter, but a place he insists he now calls home.