Toni Kroos has insisted that “without Cristiano Ronaldo, no-one would watch the Saudi Pro League” as he defended the Al-Nassr star following criticism over his recent strike action.
Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, has continued to attract huge attention to the competition since his move to Al-Nassr. That impact has been at the centre of Kroos’ comments, with the Real Madrid midfielder making clear he believes the league’s global profile is built around the Portugal captain.
Speaking about Ronaldo’s importance, Kroos said: “Without Cristiano Ronaldo, no-one would watch the Saudi Pro League.”
Kroos also moved to back Ronaldo amid the reaction to his decision to take industrial action. The German highlighted that Ronaldo remains one of the game’s biggest figures and suggested the scrutiny he faces is simply part of being a player of his stature.
Ronaldo has been a headline name in the Saudi Pro League since arriving, with his presence drawing worldwide coverage and helping to raise interest in fixtures involving Al-Nassr. Kroos’ defence underlined the scale of that influence, while pushing back against the criticism aimed at the forward.
