Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has openly expressed his desire for veteran Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos to reconsider his decision to retire from professional football.
The manager stated that Kroos would be warmly welcomed back to the club if he chose to continue playing.
The German midfielder helped Real Madrid secure their 15th Champions League title with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, June 1st.
In the crucial match at Wembley, Kroos played a vital role by providing an assist for Dani Carvajal’s opening goal.
This marks his sixth Champions League trophy, having won five with Real Madrid and lifted one with Bayern Munich.
Recall that in May, Toni Kroos announced his intention to retire from football after the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany.
This decision meant that the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund was his last game for Real Madrid.
However, Carlo Ancelotti has pleaded for Kroos to reconsider retirement which further reflects the midfielder’s importance to the team and their success on the field.
The 64-year-old Italian football manager is hopeful that Kroos will reconsider his decision to retire after his impressive final season with Real Madrid.
Ancelotti told reporters in England: “I’m grateful to Kroos.”
“He finished at the very top, there is no way to finish higher than this. He had the boldness to finish it [his career] and he is a legend at this club.
“All the fans are grateful to him for his attitude, his professionalism. I’ve told him we are waiting for him to change his mind — we are waiting for you.”
Nevertheless, if Kroos remains steadfast in his decision, Real Madrid are set to enhance their team’s success with the impending signing of Kylian Mbappé, who is expected to join the club after departing Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.
Ancelotti also mentioned that Madrid will look to their current players to fill the gap left by Kroos’ departure, expressing confidence in their ability to adapt and maintain competitiveness on the field.
“We have lost an important player, but we have players who can replace him and we will adapt and play a slightly different way,” Ancelotti said. “We have fantastic players and the resources to remain competitive.”
Meanwhile, the German midfielder who is set to leave the Spanish giants mentioned that he has given his number 8 jersey to Fede Valverde during the Champions League victory parade on Sunday, June 2, which may suggest there’s no going back on his decision.
Toni Kroos and His achievements at Real Madrid
Toni Kroos joined Real Madrid in 2014 and has since established himself as a key player for the club.
In Madrid, Kroos has won twenty-one trophies, including four La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions League titles, three of which he won consecutively from 2016 to 2018.
The 34-year-old German midfielder was a key player for Real Madrid in the 2023-2024 season, scoring a goal and providing 10 assists in 48 games across all competitions.
Overall, Toni Kroos has netted 28 goals for Real Madrid with 99 crucial assists in 465 appearances in all competitions since his arrival.
