Real Madrid include SURPRISE name on three-man shortlist of Kroos heirs

Milan Keskin

• Updated: 22 May 2024 22:34 BST
• 9 min read

Toni Kroos has decided to retire as a professional football player after the upcoming European Championship.

The Real Madrid midfielder already had an expiring contract in Spain and announced just before the end of the competition that he would retire after this season. Marca has listed three possible successors: Joshua Kimmich, Nicolò Barella and Joey Veerman from PSV.

It may well be the case that Real Madrid will end up with Veerman as a possible successor to Kroos this summer. The PSV midfielder is once again having an excellent season in Eindhoven and seems to be ready for the next step.

“I think he is so good for the Netherlands,” Dutch boss Ronald Koeman recently said in Veronica Offside. “I would like to see him in midfield in Spain, Italy, Germany or England. That is the highest level in terms of everything. I think he is ready in many respects for a move abroad.”

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Veerman to Real Madrid?

The 25-year-old midfielder can reward his top season at PSV with a transfer. Although there is no concrete interest yet, several clubs will have him on their radar. Based on data, Marca has found three possible successors for Kroos, with Veerman perhaps having the most comparable profile to the 34-year-old German.

Veerman is praised for his dribbling and also his defensive work, while the Spanish newspaper questions the midfielder's experience. After all, Veerman has never played in a foreign top competition, while Barella (Inter) and Kimmich (Bayern) have been playing in the top for years.

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His lack of experience could easily be the reason why Real Madrid will opt for security in the form of Barella and Kimmich. Yet it is not inconceivable that Los Blancos have Veerman on their list.

According to the newspaper, data shows that Veerman is ready for the next step. The Dutchman still has a contract with PSV until 2026 and has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €24.7 million - an amount that shouldn't be a problem for a club like Real Madrid.