“Such decisions are made for money and against football.” Kroos on transferring young players to Saudi Arabia

Real Madrid German midfielder Tony Kroos spoke about his attitude towards the transfer of football players to the Saudi championship.

Previously, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Roberto Firmino, Kalidou Koulibaly, Fabinho, Marcelo Brozovic, Malcom and others joined clubs from Saudi Arabia.

— How do you assess the development of football? Messi joined the club from the United States. Today, more and more football players who have played at a high level in Europe are settling in Saudi Arabia. Is Europe losing its position as the epicenter of world football?

— I ask myself this question. Not personally, because I’m calm. I’ve had an incredible career and I hope it continues for a while to come. I have a clear plan: Real Madrid is my last club. It’s a game I love and have devoted decades to.

As a football fan, this is not a good vector of development. But here I would like to share that I see nothing wrong with the transition of the Messiah. Why doesn’t he play another 2-3 years in Miami before retiring? Saudi Arabia is more difficult because of other problems.

—Is this a human rights issue?

– Yes, this is one of the things that would prevent me from making such a transition. But it’s a decision that everyone makes for themselves. For example, Cristiano Ronaldo, who decided to do this at the end of his career. But when players are in their prime, they have every chance of playing for the best clubs in Europe, but they go there… And then these people say that there is football there ambitious. But it’s all for the money! Such decisions are made for money and against football. The football we all know and love is getting harder and harder,” Kroos was quoted as saying by Sports Illustrated.

Kroos, 33,’s current contract with Real runs until the summer of 2024.