Aditya Bose
Real Madrid hand Manchester United an opportunity to land Toni Kroos for free
According to the Daily Star (h/t Express), among the teams who have been given the opportunity to recruit Real Madrid star Toni Kroos on a free transfer are Manchester United and Newcastle United.
This season, the five-time Champions League winner has only started 13 games and completed a whole game just three times. The 33-year-old may be willing to experience life as a Premier League football player after falling behind players like Jude Bellingham, a recent addition, in the hierarchy at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kroos is not young anymore and has his limitations. Ancelotti has not been shy to take him out of the firing line when needed. That might have contributed to the midfield player’s choice because it might have made him feel underappreciated.
Because of this, the Red Devils might have a fantastic chance to sign Kroos in the next transfer window, which they must seize without fail. Given the circumstances, the central midfielder will bring experience and leadership to the roster at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have been long-term admirers of the German veteran. Here is what Kroos said when he was almost on the verge of joining United in 2014:
“The contract had basically been done but then Moyes was fired and Louis van Gaal came in, which complicated matters. Louis wanted time to build his own project. I didn’t hear anything from United for a while and started having doubts. Then the World Cup started and Carlo Ancelotti called. And that was it.”
When Kroos was poised to sign a contract with Manchester United almost ten years ago, David Moyes was still the manager at Old Trafford. The 33-year-old was then at Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola and was yet to hit his prime.
If Ten Hag is under pressure, he might look forward to a short-term solution in January. Kroos certainly has the chance to make a serious impact in the middle of the park for the Red Devils.
Newcastle are also in the fray given Sandro Tonali’s suspension. The Magpies need to plug that gap in the middle of the park and could challenge us for the German’s signature. After all, Eddie Howe and Co. can do with a short-term fix for their problems.
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Although it is debatable whether it would be acceptable or not, United can now sign Kroos who admittedly has a year or two left in him at the top level. Whether he will reunite with Raphael Varane and Casemiro at the Theatre of Dreams remains to be seen.
