Toni Kroos’ Calm Gesture in Response to Ongoing Fan Booing in Saudi Arabia Sparks Attention
Toni Kroos encountered vocal disapproval from Saudi Arabian fans during the Spanish Super Cup final, a stark contrast to Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Barcelona. Despite Vinicius Jr.’s impressive hat-trick stealing the spotlight, Kroos faced persistent booing, reminiscent of a similar scenario against Atletico Madrid. The negative reception stemmed from Kroos’ prior comments critiquing players moving to the Saudi Pro League, deeming Gabri Veiga’s transfer to Al Ahli “embarrassing” and attributing such decisions to financial motives.
Carlo Ancelotti addressed the issue in a press conference, expressing bewilderment at the fans’ reaction, a sentiment shared by Kroos himself. The German midfielder was booed during post-match celebrations, displaying a composed response by waving off the jeers.
Notably, an intriguing development emerged post-game. While celebrating Real Madrid’s 13th Super Cup victory, players donned ‘Campeones’ shirts featuring Arabic text at the bottom to mark the occasion. However, a circulating image on social media revealed Kroos as the exception, choosing not to wear the shirt adorned with the number of titles. This decision further fueled speculation regarding Kroos’ stance on the matter.
Pathetic 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/g1I8ZAIZmK
— الكهله 👵🏻 (@hebah_13h) January 15, 2024
Kroos’ reluctance to embrace the celebratory attire, combined with his earlier comments, suggests a nuanced perspective on player transfers to Saudi Arabia. While acknowledging individual decisions, Kroos underscored the challenge when players in their prime opt for such moves, contrasting it with Cristiano Ronaldo‘s choice to do so later in his career.
