Florentino Pérez: “Toni Kroos is one of the greatest players in the history of Real Madrid” | OneFootball

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has described Toni Kroos as one of the ‘greatest’ players in the club’s history, after the midfielder announced that he will retire from professional football after Euro 2024.

Pérez brought Kroos to the club from Bayern Munich in 2014 in a deal worth around €25m. The German was viewed as a world-class talent with supreme playmaking ability and consequently Los Blancos’ president made it his priority to bring him to the Spanish capital.

The 34-year-old has enjoyed a trophy-laden career since moving from Munich to Madrid. Kroos has won 21 trophies, including four La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles, three of which he won consecutively from 2016 to 2018.

The German international was also selected in the competition’s team of the season every time he lifted the trophy. Pérez reflected on Kroos’ 10-year spell at the club.

He said: “Toni Kroos is one of the greatest players in the history of Real Madrid and this club is and always will be his home.”

Kroos was also part of the Germany team which won the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil. The veteran quit international football in July 2021, but came out of retirement after talks with Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Rajan Sangha | GSFN