For months it looked like Bayern Munich and Germany star Toni Kroos was heading to Manchester United, but a change in manager their gave Real Madrid the opportunity to grab Kroos for the bargain price of €25 million.
Kroos was in his last year of his contract at Bayern, and was not going to sign an extension, allowing the European Champions to get him for a song. Kroos won three Bundesliga titles and the German Cup three times at Bayern and was part of the historic treble-winning side of 2012-13 that lifted the Champions League, Bundesliga title and German Cup. He also won the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup last season.
Announcing his departure Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said:
“We would like to thank Toni Kroos for his time here in Munich.
“We enjoyed great success here together. We would like to wish him and his family all the best in Madrid and with Real.”
At his introduction to the media Kroos was asked why Real Madrid? This was his response:
“Because in my opinion Real Madrid is the biggest team that there is. For this it was a straightforward decision to go to Real Madrid. It was my first and only option, and it’s great”.
Kroos is not the only big name star joining Real this summer as Monaco and Colombia star James Rodriguez is also expected to be in a white shirt next season.
The arrival of Kroos, and Rodriguez gives Carlo Ancelotti an incredible midfield squad and and you wonder how he will keep them all happy? Assuming he continues in a 4-3-3 formation next season with Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo as the attacking three that leaves Kroos, Rodriguez, Di Maria, Alsono, Modric, Khedira and Isco all battling for three places, which is why I think we will see a couple of those names get sold this summer.
