"I’ve always liked Italian football, but Real Madrid is Real Madrid" - Toni Kroos reveals he snubbed chance to move to Serie A during Madrid stint
Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has revealed that he rejected the opportunity to move to Serie A during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. He said that he liked Italian football but wasn't going to leave Los Blancos.
Kroos joined the Spanish giants from Bayern Munich in 2014 for a reported fee of €25 million, which proved to be a massive bargain. He made 465 appearances for them, scoring 28 goals and providing 99 assists. He won five UEFA Champions League titles, among other honors, with the club.
In a recent interview, Kroos revealed that he had the opportunity to move to Serie A, telling Tuttosport (via Madrid Xtra):
“There was interest from Serie A when I was at Real Madrid, but I never thought about leaving. I’ve always liked Italian football, but Real Madrid is Real Madrid.”
Kroos eventually announced his retirement in the summer of this year after a decade with the Merengues. His last match for the club was their 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final.
Toni Kroos sends his love as Real Madrid superstar Vinicius wins FIFA The Best Men's Player award
In a ceremony in Qatar on Tuesday, December 17, it was announced that Vinicius Jr. has won FIFA's The Best Men's Player award for 2024. He helped Los Blancos win the LaLiga title, the UEFA Champions League trophy, and the Supercopa de Espana last season. He recorded 23 goals and 11 assists in 39 games across competitions.
After the win, Vinicius shared a heartfelt post on his social media, writing:
"VENI. VIDI. VICI. Today I write to that boy who saw so many idols lift this trophy... your time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say... yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought hard for it.
"They tried and still try to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not prepared. No one is going to tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave. When I was in São Gonçalo, the system didn't care about me. I was almost swallowed up.
"I won for myself, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian National Team, my hundreds of teammates over the years... the people who accompany me daily in my routine, those who admire me... THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD!"
Toni Kroos reacted with commenting four heart emojis on the post:
Kroos and Vinicius shared the pitch 209 times for the Spanish giants, combining for seven goals.