Toni Kroos says Saudi Pro League would lose appeal without Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has defended former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Saudi league is “a strange phenomenon” and that it was put “on the world map” by Ronaldo. Kroos argued the competition would lose its charm without him, adding that “without Ronaldo, no one would see the Saudi league.” Ronaldo returned to training after missing Al-Nassr’s last two fixtures in protest at the club’s January transfer dealings and is pencilled in to return to the XI against Al-Fateh next weekend.

He is not expected to play in Al-Nassr’s midweek Asian Champions League 2 trip to Arkadag. The Saudi Pro League issued a rebuke, saying: “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules.” The statement stressed that recruitment and spending decisions sit with individual clubs within an approved financial framework and that recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence and a competitive title race.

Ronaldo has scored 17 goals in 18 league games this season.

Saudi Arabia, Arkadag

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