2023-08-23 08:30:41
Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos has been critical of the many moves to Saudi Arabia, especially by players at the peak of their careers. The 33-year-old also spoke about the strengths of new signing Jude Bellingham and TV cameras in the dressing room.
Kroos defended in his podcast “Just Lump” the transfer of his former teammates Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia. They would have “won everything, have legendary status, achieved everything and then let their careers run out there, I don’t care.” He has a problem with the “26, 27, 28-year-olds, who have absolutely top quality, play in top clubs in Europe,” he emphasized.
It was “the only motivation for a 28-year-old top player who plays for a good club in Europe to go there,” explained Kroos. “Such a cut in his sporting career, from his demands, to scale it down just because of money – I’m not a fan of that. It’s an incredibly bad example for a lot of young youth players that the motivation is money.” What’s more: “I think it’s a pity for everyone who puts sporting thoughts on the backburner when they’re at their absolute top football age. That’s just not a good role model for me and a danger for football of the future.”
Toni Kroos on Jude Bellingham: “Very, very far”
Kroos praised his new team-mate Jude Bellingham, who has already scored three goals in his first two league games. “He’s very, very far, doesn’t do hara-kiri things, is always clear in his actions, works, tries to play to his strengths to the full.” Kroos commented on rumors that players at Borussia Dortmund should be happy about the Englishman’s departure as follows: “I can only give our view. And I can say that we are quite happy that he is here. If that’s in Dortmund should also be the case: all the better.”
Kroos rejects the move in the Spanish LaLiga to allow TV cameras in the changing rooms. “I find an interview at half-time relatively okay. Then there was the big issue: camera in the dressing room. Those who were against it were us – or our club. It’s not like we were asked.” Kroos spoke out for openness and pictures for the fans. “But I don’t think anyone belongs in the dressing room. You can call me old-fashioned, I have no problem with that.” For players, the cabin is “a sacred space, no camera belongs in there.”
Kroos still has a contract with the royals until 2024. He personally rules out a move to Saudi Arabia. There was no concrete offer from the Kingdom before his contract was extended either: “There was at least a loose attempt to make contact. I always think it’s good when you hear from many who have rejected it.”
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