Alvaro Gonzalez, who played alongside Ronaldo at Al Nassr, recounted the story during an interview on the Le Futbolin podcast. The Spanish defender revealed that several Al Nassr players were owed months of salary when Ronaldo joined the club in 1/2023.

"I was in Saudi Arabia for six months without pay, despite playing for one of the country's biggest clubs," Gonzalez stated. "I was not overly concerned because I had played professionally for 14 years and had savings, but my purpose in coming to Saudi Arabia was still to earn money."

Ronaldo playing for Al Nassr in a Saudi Pro League match against Al Riyadh at Prince Turki bin Abdul Aziz Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 21/8. Photo: AFP

The situation changed upon Ronaldo's transfer from Man Utd to Al Nassr. According to Gonzalez, the Portuguese superstar knew some players had not received their full salaries. He proposed resolving this issue before he received his first payment. "The government was responsible for Ronaldo's payment, and he stated that with his first salary, which was substantial, the first priority was to pay the players," Gonzalez recalled.

The former Al Nassr defender quoted Ronaldo: "Until these people get paid, I will not receive any amount."

Gonzalez, 36, previously played in La Liga for Racing Santander, Zaragoza, Espanyol, and Villarreal. He then joined Marseille in Ligue 1 before moving to Al Nassr in 2022. He has not played a professional match in 2026.

Gonzalez emphasized that Ronaldo was not obligated to make this demand but did so. He shared the story as an example of how Ronaldo treated his teammates in the locker room.

Gonzalez also described Ronaldo as approachable and willing to help his teammates when not playing. "In the locker room, he is completely normal, easy to approach, and always helps you," Gonzalez previously told Marca.

The former Spanish center-back noted that Ronaldo's on-field image differed significantly from his locker room demeanor. According to Gonzalez, Ronaldo transformed into a fierce competitor the moment he stepped onto the pitch.

The two were teammates at Al Nassr during the 2022-2023 season. Gonzalez mentioned that their training confrontations could be intense, but everything ended immediately afterward. "Afterward, we would get in the jacuzzi, laugh, and everything was left behind," Gonzalez recounted.

Gonzalez joined Al Nassr before Ronaldo and left the team after the two players played 11 matches together across all competitions in the 2022-2023 season. Al Nassr won six of those matches.

Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in 1/2023 after departing Man Utd. This move to Saudi Arabia marked a new phase in the Portuguese forward's career and for the Saudi Pro League. He reportedly earns around 220 million USD annually. Ronaldo's current contract with Al Nassr extends until 6/2027, with a salary rumored to be lower than before, yet still the highest in world football.

Hoang An (according to A Bola)