Toni Kroos may have hung up his boots, but he’s still calling out plays from the sidelines.
The German midfielder, who retired at the end of the 2023/24 season, has sent a pointed message to Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
His message? Goals alone don’t win trophies — teamwork does, and that includes tracking back.
Kroos, now enjoying post-retirement life, spoke about the balance required in football, especially for top teams like Madrid.
Though Mbappe and Vinicius have dazzled fans with goals and flair, Kroos believes more is needed, especially without the ball.
With Xabi Alonso replacing Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, Real Madrid are now expected to play with more intensity across all areas.
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And according to Kroos, that means no one gets a free pass — not even the biggest names on the team sheet.
What Toni Kroos said?
In a recent interview (via Gazzetta dello Sport), Kroos made his view clear. “Good players can and should play together. But they also have to defend. For me, attack and defense have always been inseparable.”
That one line says a lot. It wasn’t just a football cliche — it was a quiet challenge to two of Real Madrid’s brightest stars.
With Alonso demanding full commitment, Kroos is reminding everyone that defending starts from the front.
Back in October last year, Kroos also touched on Mbappe’s move to the Bernabeu. He admitted he knew the French star was joining but insisted it didn’t affect his decision to retire. “If I was curious to play with Mbappe? No… This was my decision,” he told MARCA.
As Real Madrid adapts to life without their midfield maestro, his words carry weight. With Kroos watching from afar, it’s clear he still expects high standards — especially when it comes to effort.
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