Toni Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return as ex-midfielder says he is 'simply too close' to Champions League winners

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has opened the door to returning to his former club – but not as a player.

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• Kroos retires from football in 2024
• Opens door to Real Madrid return
• Says he is "too close" to Los Blancos

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The German hero hung up his boots earlier this year, bringing the curtain down on a glittering, trophy-laden career. Just a matter of months on from leaving Madrid, the 34-year-old has spoken about returning to Los Blancos in some capacity one day – while admitting his relationship with the club is "simply too close".

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  WHAT TONI KROOS SAID

  He said on his podcast: ”The importance of Real Madrid will always be the same for me. It was a very long, great, successful and also affectionate stage. That will always remain, I will always feel close to Real Madrid, there is no doubt about that. And I will always defend Real Madrid, I will always be on their side. That will not change, the relationship is simply too close.

  “Putting myself publicly in the Real environment is something that I would say is not a relevant issue for me at the moment. For now I would say: no, no matter how closely linked I am to the club. But I am not saying that I will never again in my entire life do something with Real or have anything to do with the club, I would not rule that out, of course. In what role, that will be seen; perhaps I will know better when a few years have passed since the end of my career, in what direction I could imagine something or not, and whether the club can also imagine it or not. But I do not rule out that at some point I may be seen again in some role at Real."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kroos won practically everything a player could win in football over the course of his many years in the sport. He played for Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Madrid – winning a hatful of trophies along the way – and lifted the 2014 World Cup with his country. After what he did at Madrid, he will likely be welcomed back with open arms.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Kroos, who admitted his wife Jessica was relieved he was retiring, did stress that he is "really busy" at present.

  He added: "Anyway, right now I am really busy, completely committed to the projects I have and those I am working on, so I would not currently add anything more. But, as I already said: given my closeness to Real and my relationship with the club, I would never rule out doing something at Real at some point in the future."