Is he quitting or is he doing another year? This question accompanied Toni Kroos for months in the past season. Finally, he extended Real Madrid again until 2024, but the new season did not start as the strategist probably imagined.
Although four midfielders are required in the 4-1-2-1-2 with a diamond – this formation could become the most popular choice for coach Carlo Ancelotti – there was no room for the big one in the starting XI in the 2-0 win at Athletic in Bilbao number eight.
In Real’s attack, 25-year-old Valverde was the Methuselah
Aurelien Tchouameni (23) was flanked on the six by Eduardo Camavinga (20) and Fede Valverde (25), behind the leaders Vinicius Junior (23) and Rodrygo (22) acted 103 million euro new signing Jude Bellingham (20). Ancelotti bet – successfully – on the youth, the 33-year-old Kroos was only substituted after 70 minutes, when the final result was already on the scoreboard.
So is Kroos just a reservist in his tenth and probably last year with the Spanish record champions? In his podcast “Einfach mal Luppen”, brother Felix also smeared this on his bread, who, just for fun, called for Ancelotti to be thrown out. Toni (“Must!”) agreed with a smile, but added a more serious tone: “Everything is fine, I can assure you of that.”
As in the case of Luka Modric, who will soon be 38, Kroos’ playing times could now be kept more age-appropriate, while the next generation is introduced to the role of regular player. In a season with possibly more than 50 competitive games, it is not uncommon for a wide squad to be rotated, Kroos’ bank place at the start of the La Liga does not have to mean a loss of the regular position. But because the young guard in Bilbao convinced, the veteran will be clear: The brutal competition in the royal midfield can get him too.