Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has expressed support for Cristiano Ronaldo amid reports that the Al Nassr forward staged a brief strike, insisting that the Saudi Pro League owes much of its global profile to the Portuguese superstar.
Kroos was commenting on Ronaldo’s decision to miss two matches after reportedly growing frustrated by the league’s lack of major signings during the winter transfer window.
Ronaldo sat out Al Nassr’s clash with Al-Riyadh on the final day of the transfer window and also missed the subsequent match against Al-Ittihad.
Reflecting on the situation, Kroos emphasized that the league’s international attention is largely tied to Ronaldo’s presence.
“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,” he said.
He added, “If Cristiano leaves tomorrow, this league will lose all its charm. Without Ronaldo, no one would watch the Saudi League.”
