Real Madrid has decided who to go after and try to sign as its replacement for midfield genius Toni ... [+]
Real Madrid has decided who to go after and try to sign as its replacement for midfield genius Toni Kroos according to AS, which cited anonymous sources.
Despite still being at the height of his powers and putting in what many thought was his best season in Madrid colours since his bargain 2014 transfer from Bayern Munich, Kroos announced ahead of the 2023/2024 Champions League final that he would be hanging his boots up after the Euros.
Thankfully Kroos could do so as a treble winner given Carlo Ancelotti led his men to La Liga and Spanish Super Cup glory while Kroos' compatriots Borussia Dortmund were also overcome in a Wembley UCL final.
Ancelotti has a wealth of talented midfielders at his disposal, but none of his stars in that area of the pitch are similar enough to Kroos, which has become evident throughout the first half of the ongoing 2024/2025 campaign.
Though things have improved since, club legend Jorge Valdano was one of those most vocal on the topic following a 2-1 defeat to AC Milan on the continent.
"The departure of Toni Kroos was underestimated, and it is in midfield where Real Madrid do not find the balance," Valdano remarked on Spanish television.
"Kroos' presence was healing. He gave the team patience when they needed it and mental quickness when it was necessary to accelerate.
"There are many things that Real Madrid have lost without Kroos and they are not able to compensate for it even with some of the best players in the world," Valdano added.
Though Madrid won't make a move in the January transfer window, for the Euro 2024 winner who changed the game in the final against Jude Bellingham's England when replacing Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, it sees Spain international Martin Zubimendi as a "natural replacement for Kroos" according to AS.
To make his capture straightforward, Madrid simply has to activate Zubimendi's $63 million (€60 million) release clause at Real Sociedad, which was agreed when the 25-year-old renovated his contract until mid-2027.
Landing Zubimendi would also be a blow to Los Blancos' bitter rival FC Barcelona, who couldn't come up with the funds to free the pivot when the now-fired Xavi Hernandez saw him as the perfect successor to Sergio Busquets in the summer of 2023.
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