Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has thrown his support behind Cristiano Ronaldo amid reports that the Al Nassr star went on a brief strike, insisting the Saudi Pro League owes much of its global recognition to the Portuguese forward.
Kroos was responding to Ronaldo’s absence from two matches after the forward reportedly became frustrated by Al Nassr’s failure to secure major signings during the winter transfer window.
Ronaldo missed Al Nassr’s game against Al-Riyadh on the final day of the transfer window and was also absent from the following clash with Al-Ittihad.
Commenting on the situation, Kroos said the league’s surge in international attention was largely driven by Ronaldo’s arrival.
“The Saudi league is a strange phenomenon. Nobody really knew it before Cristiano Ronaldo arrived, and now they are disrespecting the man who put them on the world map,” he said.
He added that the league would lose its appeal without the Portuguese star, saying, “If Cristiano leaves tomorrow, the league loses its charm. Without Ronaldo, no one would watch the Saudi league.”
