Kroos masterclass shows he remains essential to Real Madrid

Robin Bairner

• 6 Nov 2021 17:38 CDT
• 3 min read

Toni Kroos’ Real Madrid future has come under question this week, with the Germany international having little over 18 months left on his contract.

Manchester United and Liverpool have both been tentatively linked with an interest in the midfielder, who turned 32 in January.

Agent Volker Struth emphatically rejected the suggestion that Kroos could leave the Bernabeu and instead insisted that the player intends to spend the remainder of his career at the club.

“I think that Toni will end his career at Real Madrid,” he told Sport1. “He hasn’t told me in any phone call that he would like to leave. He and his family are very happy in Madrid.”

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Kroos, who has already announced his retirement from the international game, let his football do the talking as Real Madrid moved to the top of La Liga on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu.

Not typically a player to make headline plays, he bucked that trend to be pivotal in the victory.

Of course, his goal after 14 minutes, when he sweetly swept home a pass from Marco Asensio after making a well-timed run into the box was the obvious highlight, but in stoppage time he made a clearance on his own goal line when Alejandro Catena was otherwise poised to level.

Beyond these decisive moments, he helped lay the foundation for the win.

He completed a match-high 71 passes over the course of the game at 93.4% accuracy – more than anyone else on the field – and 58 of those were in the Rayo Vallecano half. No-one had more than his 95 touches and only Eduardo Camavinga (16) in the home ranks competed in more duels. Kroos also won more fouls than any other player.

In such form, Kroos is an asset to any side and Real Madrid would do well to continue building their plans around him.