Cristiano Ronaldo has said he will speak "at the end of the season about many real matters," as speculation over his Al-Nassr future intensifies.
In an interview with former Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand, shared by journalist Fabrizio Romano, the 40-year-old claimed he opened the door for the league's wave of star signings. "I was the first to come to this league, and the rest came because of me," Ronaldo said.
He also called for greater respect for Saudi Pro League referees following accusations of bias in favour of Al-Nassr. "They must respect the referees; even if they make mistakes, they are human and they do errors," he told Ferdinand.
The comments follow Al-Nassr's 2-0 win over Al-Ahli, after which defender Merih Demiral claimed officials "want them to win." Ronaldo has previously warned that public criticism damages the league, stating: "We should stop this if we want to compete with the best European leagues."
Ronaldo's future remains unresolved with his contract due to expire at the end of June. Romano reports that no new deal has yet been signed, leaving the door open to moves within Saudi Arabia or abroad.