Bharath Rammr
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has hinted the possibility of moving to the Premier League in the near future. The German says that he will not be returning to the Bundesliga, as he wants to try out a new challenge. Kroos is widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation. The 27-year-old has been at Madrid since 2014. He has enjoyed an incredible amount of success in his career. The list of trophies that he has managed to win include the 3 Bundesliga titles, 3 DFB Pokals, 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, and 1 FIFA World Cup.
It is not a surprise that Manchester United tried to sign him when he was first available back in the summer of 2014. Madrid’s history and heritage enabled them to sign the player for just around £20million, but most importantly, it was the presence of a top manager like Carlo Ancelotti that enabled the Spanish club to convince the player. Kroos has won the La Liga title, which was probably the only major honour left for him to lift in the two big leagues. Clearly, repeating the same success over and over again does not appeal to the player.
He has ruled out a potential return to German football where he has played for the likes of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. He says that if he leaves Madrid, it is likely to be to a new destination. Talking to German magazine Sponsors, he said:
“In the Bundesliga, I will definitely not play anymore, that chapter is finished. I cannot imagine going back to (former club) Bayern. It will not happen, so there is no other option for me in Germany.”
The statement has alerted Manchester United, who still retain an interest in the player even after several managerial changes since the days of David Moyes. United are aware that Michael Carrick is unlikely to play for long. Kroos is a player in the mould of Carrick and he will be able to carry the team during difficult periods. Jose Mourinho has always liked a player like Kroos, and it is not surprising that United are starting to take a keen interest on the player’s statements. However, the likelihood of signing Kroos in the upcoming summer transfer window is extremely low considering that the player has a contract with Madrid until June 2022.
Kroos signed a deal only back in October 2016. Madrid are in a very strong position to retain the player if they wish to, as he still has five years left on his contract. Manchester United have to come up with a huge sum of money in order to prize away the 27-year-old.
