Real Madrid midfielder, and five-time Champions League winner Toni Kroos has had a go at players who are running towards English clubs for money alone. The midfielder has further blasted the Premier League sides claiming they still lack European success after all the money. The Premier League has seen some lucrative contracts being given out in recent years, especially by the ‘top-six’ clubs.
Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea, Manchester City duo Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland, and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, all have penned whopping deals with their respective clubs which sees them pocket a whopping salary of more than £500,000 per-week. However, Kroos has pointed out that the money has still not guaranteed them European glory, which is being dominated by the Spanish clubs.
Toni Kroos takes aim at former teammate Casemiro who joined Manchester United
Toni Kroos’ comments over players choosing money over a winning mentality couldn’t have come at an intriguing time since his former teammate Casemiro recently swapped sides with Manchester United. The Brazilian left Real after a trophy-laden stint which saw him lift five Champions League titles at the club. He penned a four-year deal at Old Trafford, and will now earn a stellar £325,000-per-week wages.
Talking on the OMR podcast, it appears Toni Kroos has aimed a dig at the 30-year-old who left a dominating side to join a struggling United who will compete in the Europa League this season. The ‘German Sniper’ said:
“You can’t say that [Premier League is the best] because there are a lot of big teams, but it’s hard to say. The English Premier League did not win a European title this year. I think teams from Germany and Spain are keeping up.
“TV earnings have been the highest in England for years, yet English teams haven’t benefited and that’s a good sign that it also depends on what the training looks like, and what is the name of the club. Real Madrid and Barcelona are by no means small names. Not every player looks at salary there, but also looks to win a lot and improve more.”
The 32-year-old may have a point here with his views, given the dominance of Spanish sides in the UEFA competitions. In last 12 years, Real, Barcelona, Atletico and Sevilla have won a total of 24 European trophies; the most by any country. On the other hand, English clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have only bagged a total of 8 European titles.
Toni Kroos further went on to support the controversial European Super League, an initiative by his president Florentino Perez. Kroos said:
“Precisely the plan that Perez followed, let me put it this way, ‘Never contradict your boss’. I’m just like everyone else backstage and don’t know much. Obviously, the idea was and still is. I see that the Super League is being worked on and it may take some time, but in my opinion in the end it will become a reality, but I cannot say when.”
The German won his fifth Champions League title last season as Real defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final. While he may have lost his usual partner Casemiro in midfield, Kroos has new friends in Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni to feature alongside the evergreen Luka Modric.