midfielder Toni Kroos has savagely branded Gabri Veiga’s expected move to the Saudi Pro League as ’embarrassing’.
Celta Vigo wonderkid Veiga was the subject of big-name interest this summer, with , and understood to have closely monitored him.
However, it initially appeared that Serie A side Napoli had won the race, though reports earlier this week suggested the deal was on the brink of collapsing.
The reason behind the stand-off has now emerged with Veiga, 21, opting for Al-Ahli.
Indeed, according to , the playmaker was the club’s secretive top target in this window and the switch is rapidly approaching completion.
Celta Vigo wonderkid Gabri Veiga is expected to make a shock move to the Saudi Pro League
Toni Kroos has savagely branded his surprise decision to move to Al-Ahli as ’embarrassing’
Kroos took to social media to air his thoughts on the switch and did not pull his punches
Kroos, however, has taken exception to Veiga’s shock decision to quit LaLiga for the kingdom’s riches and aimed a dig at him on social media.
Al-Ahli, based in Jeddah, have been one of the most active Saudi clubs in the market, having lured the likes of Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Allan Saint-Maximin and Franck Kessie. Their capture of Veiga, though, is especially eye-catching.
A host of players have been convinced to move over from Europe this summer, with a staggering recruitment drive fuelled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Veiga has emerged as one of the continent’s brightest talents after a superb season last time out and has also become a regular performer for Spain’s U21s.
He scored 11 goals in 36 LaLiga appearances last campaign and laid on four assists.
This season, he was introduced off the bench for Celta’s first match but found himself an unused substitute for the draw with Real Sociedad last weekend.
Veiga was coveted by several Premier League sides including Manchester City and Chelsea
Cristiano Ronaldo moved to the kingdom to join Al-Nassr and has been joined by a host of stars
Manchester United and Newcastle were also linked with Veiga and Celta president Carlos Mourino freely admitted in March that he was powerless to stop him leaving.
‘We don’t want to sell Gabri Veiga, but they are going to buy him from us. And we can’t do anything there,’ Mourino said.
‘We know some of his offers and it is impossible to reach them.
‘There are several teams behind Gabri. Of the top 10 in the Premier League, four have asked about him.’
Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Sadio Mane and maroonbookmarks.com Riyad Mahrez are among those to have accepted new challenges in Saudi Arabia, though all are aged in their 30s. In contrast, the promising Veiga turned 21 just a matter of months ago.
Karim Benzema also took the plunge after taking up a move to Al-Ittihad but may well find himself leaving already after falling out with boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
