Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has hit out at players who move to the Premier League for the salaries, just weeks after former Casemiro completed a big-money switch to Manchester United.
Brazil international and former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, who won five Champions League titles alongside Kroos at the Bernabeu, reportedly signed a four-year contract worth £375,000-a-week to move to the Premier League with United.
It comes as Kroos and Real Madrid prepare to start the defence of their Champions League title at Celtic tonight, while Casemiro could make his first start for United since his £60m move at home to Real Sociedad on Thursday.
Kroos also took a swipe at English by suggesting that although the Premier League has by far the most money in Europe, it does not guarantee success on the Champions League stage.
Real Madrid won their 14th European title last season, after beating Chelsea, Manchester City and then Liverpool in the final in Paris.
Kroos told the OMR Podcast: “TV money has been significantly higher in England for years and yet it hasn’t resulted in English teams winning everything.
“Thank God not all players look only at salary but also at winning many titles and to grow more.”
Kroos was previously linked with a move to Manchester United and is reportedly considering his options with the 32-year-old entering the final year of his contract.
Casemiro made a tearful exit from Real Madrid and said upon arriving in England: “The Premier League is a dream to play in. It’s a wonderful league. The respect that fans have for players, the players have for fans, the players with the referees, the referees with the players, the passion of the clubs… when go from the airport to the city, you feel that the city has football in the air and I think that stadium also speaks for itself. The ground breathes football and I’m delighted to be here.”
