Real Madrid eye Bundesliga sensation as ideal long-term Toni Kroos replacement | OneFootball

The news of Toni Kroos’ retirement from professional football has struck Real Madrid like a rod of lightning.

There is much disappointment and grief in the Real Madrid dressing room after the midfielder decided to hang up his career this summer, meaning the upcoming Champions League final will be his last game as a Real Madrid player.

With Kroos retiring after Euro 2024, Real Madrid management now has the daunting task of finding a replacement.

Florian Wirtz emerges as a replacement

According to SportBILD, though, it appears Real Madrid have identified the ideal long-term replacement for Toni Kroos, in the form of Florian Wirtz.

The report suggests that Los Blancos see the Bayer Leverkusen starlet as someone who can replace Kroos in the years to come.

Can Wirtz replace Kroos at Real Madrid? (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

As such, Real Madrid are closely monitoring the situation of the German international, who has emerged as one of the best young players in world football.

Real Madrid to target Leverkusen duo in 2025?

Despite the club’s interest in Wirtz, Real Madrid are unlikely to find themselves in a position to go after the young attacker in the coming summer.

The Spanish champions are already occupied with the acquisition of Kylian Mbappe, which should take a heavy toll on the club’s finances.

A more realistic avenue for Real Madrid, therefore, will be to approach Wirtz in 2025. Curiously, Los Blancos are eyeing a move for Xabi Alonso around the same time.

The Spanish tactician has been identified as a potential replacement for Ancelotti. Having played a crucial role behind Wirtz’s rapid rise to prominence, one would expect Alonso to play a key role in convincing the German to join follow him in Madrid come 2025.