Toni Kroos has served this Real Madrid team for the last six years now and how! The veteran midfielder is 30-years-old but shows no signs of slowing down. Real Madrid can rely on his skills on the pitch any day, and his consistency has been the club’s biggest asset.
However, the question that lies ahead is whether the midfield general would be there at the Madrid side for the foreseeable future or whether he will shift his allegiance to some other club shortly. There have been rumours linking the German with a move to Premier League side Manchester City, where he could reunite with his old boss Pep Guardiola. Despite the speculation, Kroos has recently stated that he would honour his contract at Real Madrid and does not see himself playing in England.
In an interview with Eurosport, the former Bayern Munich star has said, “I definitely plan to be with Real for these three years, then it is a good time at 33 to question yourself: what does it look like physically, what does motivation look like – I still feel like it to keep going?
“If something comes together and you say: ‘Okay, one more year here, because you are just good enough and you still feel like it’, I would not rule it out. But then a move to England, which is also played very physically, I can’t imagine that at 33.”
His contributions at Real Madrid
Just after winning the World Cup in 2014, Toni Kroos moved to Real Madrid from Bayern Munich. Right from the beginning, he became a regular name in the teamsheet for Los Blancos playing in the central midfield area. Kroos has an immense physical stature which he uses to the fullest. His technique, vision and creativity are praiseworthy.
The German also has decent shooting ability, and the Madrid side often designates him with set-piece duties. A hardworking player on the field, Kroos can take up defensive roles, snatching the possession away from the opposition with ease. His dynamism is there for all to see and Toni Kroos has earned the reputation of being one of the best central midfielders of his time.
What does this mean for Real Madrid?
Kroos has been manning the Madrid club’s midfield for a long time, guiding the team through three Champions League trophies. He formed a blazing partnership with Luka Modrić at the centre of the park, a collaboration that saw the club reach the peak of their success in Europe. Now, Modrić is already 34, and it is apparent that he would not be able to carry on at Madrid for a long time. If Zidane is to lose both his central midfielders at the same time, it would be immensely difficult for him to cope up and in that regard, the recent statement of Kroos would be a relief for him.
Difficulty in finding alternatives
Real have been trying to get Paul Pogba from Manchester United for a long time now. However, the deal is just not happening with one obstacle after the other. With the COVID-19 situation looming over the football world, finding able replacements may not be easy for any side, particularly for the top clubs like Madrid. In this situation, Kroos staying put at Real for the imminent future is a reason for the board and the manager to cheer up.
