Toni Kroos takes aim at those chasing Saudi transfer money – but lets former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo off the hook

Portuguese superstar Ronaldo started the trend of Middle Eastern moves when linking up with Al-Nassr on the back of the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar. He has since been joined by the likes of Neymar, Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, Alex Telles, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marcelo Brozovic, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson – while a big-money move for Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah may yet happen.

World Cup winner Kroos insists that he would never tread a similar path, with questions being asked of why players in the supposed peak years of their respective careers have chosen to walk away from the top domestic divisions and Champions League football in Europe.

Kroos has told Sports Illustrated, with only those approaching the end of their playing days considered to be justified in heading to Saudi Arabia: “Everyone has to make this decision for themselves, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who decided to do so towards the end of his career. But it becomes very difficult when players who are in the middle of their careers and have the quality to play for top clubs in Europe decide to make such changes. And then it is said that it is an ambitious sporting decision to go there, but the truth is that it's all about the money. In the end it's a decision for the money – and against football. And from there it starts to get difficult for the football we all know and love.”

Former Germany international Kroos is approaching the end of his own illustrious career, at 33 years of age, but he is committed to another 12-month contract at Real Madrid and has not ruled out a further extension at Santiago Bernabeu.