Tehran- IRAF- Toni Kroos, the celebrated German midfielder who retired from football in the summer of 2024, made headlines again with his controversial remarks.
In a candid interview, he described the Saudi Professional League as “built entirely around Ronaldo”, emphasizing that the league would hold no standing in world football without the Portuguese star.
Having shared the Real Madrid locker room with Ronaldo for years, Kroos stated:
“Before Cristiano, no one even knew the name of the Saudi league. And now, if tomorrow he leaves this league, no one will be willing to watch their matches.”
He also criticized the Saudi authorities’ treatment of Ronaldo as a “blatant disrespect”, adding that Ronaldo is the sole reason Saudi football is visible on the international stage.
These remarks come at a time when Saudi football is experiencing tense and turbulent days.
Management disputes and financial crises within clubs have inflamed the league, and Kroos’s criticism has acted like fuel on the fire of these ongoing issues.
Ronaldo’s Strike
Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al-Nassr, recently shocked Saudi football by going on strike.
In protest against financial issues and delayed payment of club staff salaries, he refused to participate in several key matches.
This action put pressure not only on Al-Nassr but on the entire league, and international media reported significant losses resulting from his absence.
After intense negotiations, Al-Nassr management eventually met Ronaldo’s demands, and the overdue salaries for the staff were paid.
This led Ronaldo to end his strike and return to team training.
As a result, the major crisis in Saudi football temporarily subsided, and the Portuguese star is now ready to take the field again in the yellow jersey.
