Former German midfielder Toni Kroos is set for a sensational return to Real Madrid, although he will feature in a directorial role and will not be seen on the playing field.
After a decade in the Spanish
capital, Kroos cemented his status as a Real Madrid legend, making 465 appearances while registering 99 assists and 28 goals. He could now be all set for a return next season to the club where he retired two years ago.
During his decade with Real Madrid, Kroos won the UEFA Champions League five times, bagged four La Liga titles, lifted the Copa del Rey on several occasions and added four UEFA Super Cup wins to his honours list.
In 2024, Kroos bid farewell to Real Madrid and professional football, but the 36-year-old remains a familiar presence in the Spanish capital, where he runs his own football academy.
As per Spanish newspaper Diario AS, his relationship with the Real Madrid hierarchy has remained strong, with chairman Florentino Pérez leading the push to bring the club icon back.
According to the report, internal discussions are already at an advanced stage, with only the specifics of his role left to be finalised. Real Madrid, meanwhile, find themselves in a tough phase, with criticism over performances and results mounting amidst simmering unrest within the club.
Real Madrid saw FC Barcelona move ahead in the title race this weekend, while in the UEFA Champions League, they face a daunting, though not impossible, task of overturning a 1-2 deficit against Bayern Munich in Germany next Wednesday.
Club officials believe the timing is right, not to bring Kroos back as a footballer, despite his peak fitness, but to utilise his influence within the midfield and support Álvaro Arbeloa and other former teammates.
While the move itself is confirmed, the specifics of his role and responsibilities are still being finalised.
