Toni Kroos was continually whistled by fans during Real Madrid's 5-3 Spanish Super Cup semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid in Riyadh on Wednesday, after the German international previously criticized the growing trend of top players to move to Saudi Arabia.
The midfielder was introduced as a second-half substitute for Luka Modric in the match (which Madrid won in extra time thanks to an own goal from Stefan Savic and a late goal from Brahim Díaz) and was booed every time he touched the ball by a significant number of the crowd in Al-Awwal Park.
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Last August, Kroos called prominent playmaker Gabri Veiga's decision to join Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli from Celta Vigo “shameful” and later said in an interview that human rights concerns were “the most “The only thing that would prevent me from making such a move.”
He added that signing for a Saudi club was “a decision for money… and against football.”
After the match, Kroos made a tongue-in-cheek post about X in response to the crowd's treatment of him in Saudi Arabia: “It was fun today! Amazing crowd!”
“I don't understand the whistles,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said in his post-match press conference. “I don't understand them, honestly. And I think Kroos doesn't either.”
In a thrilling first match of the Super Cup, Atlético took the lead with a Mario Hermoso header before Antonio Rüdiger equalized. Ferland Mendy then put Real ahead and Antoine Griezmann equalized, becoming Atlético's all-time leading scorer, to make it 2-2 at half-time.
A Rudiger own goal put Atlético up 3-2 before Dani Carvajal scored late to force extra time. Savic's own goal and Diaz's breakaway goal in the 122nd minute put Madrid into Sunday's final, where they will face either Barcelona or Osasuna, who will meet on Thursday.
“The players who came on (Joselu, Dani Ceballos, Brahim) won the game for us,” Ancelotti said. “That gives the coach a lot of confidence. It's the only way to win these types of games.
“It is nothing new, it is the DNA of Real Madrid. It is something that young people must learn.” [Jude] Bellingham, Arda [Guler]…this team never gives up. You can lose, but never give up.”
Substitute Joselu insisted he should be credited with Madrid's crucial fourth goal.
“I touched it!” he told Movistar. “I saw Dani [Carvajal] I was going to play it, and they gave me the first contact, so I don't know what happened [when it deflected off Savic].
“I was coming in, that's my goal!”
The two Madrid teams will meet in just a week's time, in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey on January 18, before meeting in LaLiga at the Santiago Bernabéu in three weeks' time.
“It's not about revenge,” said Atlético coach Diego Simeone. “It's another game, a tie, and it will be different from today.”
