Kroos reveals Real Madrid's reaction to Casemiro's Man Utd transfer

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 3 min read

Casemiro raised a few eyebrows when he swapped Real Madrid for Manchester United in an €80 million transfer this summer…

Brazil international Casemiro was a stalwart of the Real Madrid midfield, one who won five Champions League titles during his nine-year stay at the Bernabeu.

But with Real paying Monaco €100m for Aurelien Tchouameni, a player in Casemiro's position, this summer, the 30-year-old decided it was time to jump ship and joined Erik ten Hag's Red Devils revolution instead.

READ: Casemiro not an €80 million waste of money for Man Utd after all

Toni Kroos played alongside Casemiro for the latter three of those European triumphs, the pair completing a midfield three with Luka Modric that was the envy of world football, and the German was sad to see him leave.

"I was surprised by Casemiro's departure," he admitted. "It's true that the rumours started two days before, but here there are always many rumours and many times nothing happens.

"But when he told me I was sad, because I began to remember all the years with him and the things we won together."

READ: Real Madrid wages: How much does each player earn?

Madrid's midfield minefield

Real are the defending Spanish and European champions, and while Kroos and Modric remain fulcrums of the team, they have increasingly younger company with Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde coming up behind Tchouameni.

Los Blancos have also been linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund's nascent young England international Jude Bellingham, although they face competition from the Premier League for the 19-year-old's signature. Kroos is clear about where he thinks he should go.

"The Premier League hasn't won an international title this year," he said. "Television money has been significantly higher in England for years and yet it hasn't resulted in English teams winning everything. Thank God not all players look only at salary but also at winning."

Casemiro may end the current campaign empty-handed, but he has begun to settle into the Man Utd midfield and the club have only lost one of their last 10 games in all competitions.