Enemy of Saudi Arabia, the unexpected reason why Toni Kroos is booed during Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid

Toni Kroos gets substituted in the Semifinal game of the Spanish Supercup against Atletico Madrid in the 67th minute to replace Luka Modric. What Kroos might not have expected was the loud boos he would receive from the crowd in the stadium.

These boos are clearly targeted against Kroos because every time the German midfielder touches the ball, the loud boos begin to ring around the stadium. The stadium filled with Saudi Arabian people supporting both clubs united to boo the player. Why do the Saudi Arabian people dislike the player?

During the summer transfer window in 2023, Saudi Arabian clubs splashed the cash by making great signings from European clubs. Real Madrid would sell one of their key players, a former teammate of Kroos. Karim Benzema joined Al Ittihad in early June 2023.

Gabri Viega, a player with lots of potential in La Liga, surprised many football fans by choosing to move to the Saudi League and play for Al Ahli. A post by Fabrizio Romano, a reliable football journalist, confirmed the move and included a comment made by Toni Kroos himself. The German called the transfer "embarrassing" since it was a young player choosing to play in Saudi rather than choosing to play for a bigger European club or league.

Kroos was done with his comments on the Saudi League as he went off on other players' decisions to join that league. He mentions that the major reason players move to Saudi Arabia is money.

"I heard that in Saudi Arabia, they play ambitious football, but everything revolves around money. Going there is a decision about money, and against the football, we all know and love."

Kroos questions the decisions as he states that "it is difficult to understand that players who are in the middle of their career do it. I would never go to Arabia because of the lack of human rights."

The Saudi Arabian fans seem to remember these comments from a few months back and are ruthless whenever the midfielder touches the ball. Kroos is just there to help Real Madrid reach another final and win another trophy hosted in Saudi Arabia.