Former Real Madrid star Toni Kroos may have hung up his boots, but he still keeps a close watch on his old team.
The 34-year-old German midfield maestro spoke openly in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t SPORT) about why he chose to retire when he did.
Kroos explained he didn’t want to face the struggles many players deal with towards the end of their careers. "I didn’t want to get into that dynamic of playing less, living with pain, and seeing my body not working like before," he shared honestly.
It is to be noted that his long-time teammate Luka Modric has taken a different route. At 39, Modric is heading to Milan, happy to accept a smaller role so he can keep playing the game he loves.
Kroos praised Modric, calling him “a special player” whose quality will never fade, even if his physical abilities have changed.
"It is obvious that physically he is not the same, but he continues to contribute and enjoy, not only on the pitch, but also off it."
"The foot he has will never lose him," Kroos added, admiring Modric’s unique talent.
Kroos’ retirement has left a clear gap in Real Madrid’s midfield, and the German himself pointed this out. He admitted that the club has yet to find anyone who can fully replace him.
"A profile like mine is still missing… and they continue to look for him," Kroos said. He didn’t say this out of arrogance but rather with the authority of someone who spent a decade dictating play for Los Blancos.
"There aren’t many players like that, and the ones that are there aren’t easy to get," he noted.
Looking at the current Real Madrid under new manager Xabi Alonso, Kroos stayed cautious. "It’s too early to judge Xabi’s Madrid."
"It takes time to evaluate the change and implementation of your ideas. I can only say that he has done a great job in Germany," he concluded.