After the move by Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Nassr, a wave of European soccer talents have followed suit, seeking big-money moves to Saudi Arabia. This exodus has raised eyebrows and sparked debates within the soccer community. While many players have been enticed by the lucrative offers, not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Real Madrid star Luka Modric, for one, has brutally rejected the idea of joining this European exodus.
It all started with Ronaldo’s move to Al Nassr, which opened the floodgates for other top European stars to consider playing in Saudi Arabia’s top-flight league. The likes of Neymar Jr., Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane have all made big-money moves to the kingdom. However, the allure of the Middle East has not captivated Modric, who remains content at Real Madrid.
Luka Modric has no plans of following Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia
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The Saudi Pro League has spared no expense in luring top players with the promise of luxurious lifestyles. Ronaldo’s staggering deal worth $500 million set the benchmark for others to follow. Such astronomical figures have attracted both awe and criticism from players and pundits alike. One individual who voiced his skepticism is Toni Kroos, another former teammate of Ronaldo at Real Madrid. It seems that Modric shares similar sentiments.
Modric, who received an offer from Al Hilal, was reportedly offered an incredible $215 million salary at the start of the transfer window. However, the Croatian maestro declined the offer without a second thought. In a recent interview with R7.com, Modric made it abundantly clear that he has no intention of leaving Real Madrid and joining the Saudi Pro League bandwagon.
“I’m very happy and satisfied at Real Madrid, and I’m not thinking of any other option,” Modric stated emphatically. “And I don’t need to feed my ego with these stories about big offers either. I just want to enjoy every moment of soccer and Real Madrid.” (Google Translate).
All this speaks volumes about the 38-year-old’s commitment to his current club. While this is what Luka Modric has to say, let’s also look at what Ronaldo’s other former teammate Toni Kroos had to say about this exodus.
Toni Kroos slammed the Saudi moves
Real Madrid player Toni Kroos recently shared his perspective on players who choose to pursue lucrative deals in the Arabian region. The esteemed Real Madrid midfielder expressed strong criticism towards most players who have made the decision to join the Saudi Arabian league. Kroos voiced, “It has even been commented that they play ambitious soccer there, but it’s all about the money. In the end, it’s a decision for the money and against soccer”.
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🗣 Toni Kroos: "Saudi Arabia? It has been said ambitious football is played there, but everything revolves around money. In the end, it's a decision for money and against football." @diarioas pic.twitter.com/UuTnIqcaEd
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 31, 2023
In addition, earlier he also described Gabri Veiga‘s transfer to Al Ahli as “embarrassing”. Undeniably, it is evident that the German superstar does not support these prominent stars leaving for Saudi Arabia. As more European soccer talents flock to compete in the Saudi Pro League, there are also numerous individuals who firmly oppose this trend.
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