Kroos vows to retire at Real Madrid, timing unknown

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Nov 2022 22:54

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos says he will retire at the Spanish club.

The German has decided his future. (AFP)

Toni Kroos, a Real Madrid midfielder, says he will retire from the Spanish team, though it may not be in June 2023, when his contract is set to expire.

According to some Spanish reports, the German, who will turn 33 in January, is thinking about leaving club football at the end of the current campaign.

Kroos retired from international duty with Germany in June last year after a last-16 elimination by England in Euro 2020 but said the reports were "funny" as even he had not decided his future yet. "I feel very good physically, things are going well on the pitch, I'm very happy," Kroos told a press conference on Tuesday ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Celtic.

"Sometimes it's funny to read things, when not even I know what is going to happen. Next year I will think about it, or in the (World Cup) break, I will think a bit about what could happen, and bit by bit I will decide."

"What I have always said and is something that has not changed, is that I will not move clubs. I will always stay here, I will retire here, the only thing I don't know is when."

According to some Spanish reports, the German, who will turn 33 in January, is thinking about leaving club football at the end of the current campaign.

He won the Champions League four times with Los Blancos and once with the German powerhouses. He has also won the Spanish, German, and World cups with his national team.

The midfielder is happy to wait for potential renewal talks with Madrid until even as late as March next season. "The club is very calm, like me. I've been here nearly eight and a half years," added Kroos. "We will talk calmly in January, February, or even March."

Madrid can seal the top spot in their Champions League group with a win over Celtic on Wednesday.

While Aurelien Tchouameni was not yet ready following a muscular issue, head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that striker Karim Benzema was feeling better after a thigh problem and had a chance to be included in the squad.