Former Real Madrid midfielder, Toni Kroos, has come out in support of Cristiano Ronaldo amid reports that the Al Nassr forward went on a brief strike, insisting that the Saudi Pro League’s global relevance is largely down to the Portuguese star.
Kroos was reacting to Ronaldo’s reported frustration after the club failed to secure major signings during the winter transfer window, a situation that allegedly led to the forward missing two matches.
Ronaldo was absent from Al Nassr’s clash against Al-Riyadh on the final day of the transfer window and also did not feature in the subsequent match against Al-Ittihad, fueling speculation about his dissatisfaction.
Speaking on the issue, Kroos said the Saudi league’s rise to international prominence began only after Ronaldo’s arrival.
“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.
The German midfielder added that Ronaldo’s influence on the league remains unmatched.
“If Cristiano leaves tomorrow, this league will lose all its charm. Without Ronaldo, no one would see the Saudi league,” he stated.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in late 2022 and has since played a key role in drawing global attention, elite players, and media coverage to the Saudi Pro League.
