Toni Kroos speaks on Cristiano Ronaldo dispute with the Saudi Pro League amid Al Nassr tensions.
Former Germany international Toni Kroos has weighed in on the ongoing dispute between Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr’s ownership, delivering a strong critique of the Saudi Pro League.
The former Real Madrid midfielder slammed the league amid Ronaldo’s protest against the Public Investment Fund (PIF) over what he perceives as a lack of ambition and investment in Al Nassr. The 41-year-old forward has already missed two matches despite being fully fit, with reports from Portugal suggesting his absence was triggered by rivals Al Hilal signing Karim Benzema from Al Ittihad, while Al Nassr failed to match that level of spending.
The Saudi Pro League responded firmly to Ronaldo’s protest, issuing a statement reminding the Portuguese star that he is not bigger than the league.
What Toni Kroos said
Kroos, who played alongside Ronaldo at Real Madrid between 2014 and 2018 and won three Champions League titles together, believes the league has shown a lack of respect to the Al Nassr captain. He highlighted Ronaldo’s immense role in elevating the global profile of Saudi football.
“The Saudi league is a strange phenomenon. No one had heard of it before the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, and now they disrespect the man who put them on the world map,” Kroos said, per Goal.
“If Cristiano leaves tomorrow, this league will lose all its charm. Without Ronaldo, no one would see the Saudi league.”
Dispute resolved, Ronaldo set to return
Despite the public fallout, reports indicate that the dispute between Ronaldo and the Saudi Pro League has now been resolved after discussions between both parties. The league is said to have met some of the forward’s demands.
Ronaldo is expected to return to action next weekend when Al Nassr face Al-Fateh. However, he will miss midweek’s Asian Champions Cup fixture against Turkmenistani side Arkadag.
The episode once again highlights Ronaldo’s enormous influence, not just on the pitch but also on the global perception of leagues and competitions around the world.
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