Toni Kroos is among seven Real Madrid stars whose contracts expire at the end of the ongoing season.
The German veteran has earned legendary status at the Santiago Bernabeu for everything he has achieved since joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 from Bayern Munich.
However, with five months left on his contract, there is no certainty over whether he will sign a new deal or decide against an extension, especially considering that Kroos has previously spoken of early retirement.
Amidst this, AS is reporting that there are doubts over Kroos’ continuity at Real Madrid as he has confessed to his inner circle that he will renew only if he knows that he will be a regular starter next season.
The 33-year-old midfielder continues to be an integral part of Carlo Ancelotti’s setup and has played 26 times for Real Madrid this term, scoring two goals and setting up four more.
But, the manager did drop him to the bench for the La Liga clash against Athletic Club, indicating that he is willing to put faith in other midfielders like Dani Ceballos and Eduardo Camavinga.
So, it is bound to raise some doubts over the continuity and future of Kroos, especially with Real Madrid also working hard to sign Jude Bellingham in the summer.
At 33, the former Germany international is entering the final phase of his career, but still has a lot to offer to the team. Renewing him by another year would certainly be beneficial for the Merengues.
But whether Kroos would be open to accepting a reduced role in terms of his playing time could hold the key to whether he signs a new contract before next season.