Toni Kroos has reignited his feud with Saudi Arabia with another brutal comment months after he labelled a transfer 'embarrassing'.
Toni Kroos will retire from football after Euro 2024 this summer, bringing an end to a stellar 17-year career.
The German midfielder will end his Real Madrid career with Saturday's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, before joining up with his international teammates.
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At 34 years old, Kroos could have continued to play at a lower level, but he decided to bow out at the top.
Some wondered whether he would follow plenty of other European stars by joining a club in Saudi Arabia, but earlier this year he made it clear that would never be on the cards.
Kroos angered Saudi fans last summer when he described the €35 million transfer of Gabri Veiga - one of La Liga's most promising talents - to Al-Ahli as 'embarrassing'.
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Kroos was booed by fans when Real Madrid played in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January after he criticised the Gulf state's human rights record.
Speaking to Cadena SER ahead of the Champions League final, Kroos has reignited the feud with another jibe.
"Saudi Arabia or playing abroad? They don't like me there so much," Kroos laughed.
"But like I said before, I will miss the football the most."
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When pressed further on the stick he received in Saudi, Kroos said: "It didn’t bother me at all. Everyone has their opinion and my opinion has not changed.
"For me it is not a country where I see myself playing for different reasons that I have already explained before. Neither playing nor living. Much less living less.
"They love me a little less there. Am I going to miss the whistles? I also enjoyed that a little.
"No no. What I’m going to miss is football, the game. I have always said that I wanted to end my career at this club [Real Madrid]. I’m happy to do it."
Topics: Toni Kroos, Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia, La Liga, Football
Alex Brotherton