Kroos on Man United radar as Real Madrid midfielder looks for new challenge

Aditya Devavrat 15:20 23/03/2019
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  • Manchester United may finally land Toni Kroos, five seasons after he turned down a move in favour of joining Real Madrid.

    The Sun claim Kroos is available for £50million and is looking to leave Madrid after a middling season for the La Liga side.

    United were close to signing the German midfielder from Bayern Munich in the 2013-14 season, with David Moyes, who was manager at the time, recently claiming he had spoken to Kroos directly and was assured the player would be arriving at the end of the season after a January move failed to materialise.

    However, after he helped Germany win the World Cup in summer 2014, Madrid made him their first signing of that window, and he has gone on to win the Champions League on three occasions and the league title once during his time in the Spanish capital.

    Reports in 2014 claimed Louis van Gaal, Moyes’ replacement at United, vetoed a move for Kroos, paving the way for the midfielder to join Madrid after his triumphant summer with his national team.

    The 29-year-old was already a highly-rated player at the time and his stock has only risen since then as his form in midfield alongside Luka Modric and Casemiro underpinned one of the most successful spells in Real Madrid history.

    But the last year has seen a slight dip in form as well as disappointment for both club and country, with Germany suffering a shock first-round exit at last summer’s World Cup in Russia, where they entered as the reigning champions.

    Kroos scored a stunning injury-time winner from a direct free-kick to keep Die Mannschaft‘s hopes alive after their second game, but they crashed out a week later.

    Madrid, meanwhile, have endured one of their worst seasons of the modern era, with all hope of ending the season with a trophy extinguished in the past month.

    Los Blancos were knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the semi-final stage by Barcelona, who then beat Madrid three days later in the league to quash any remaining hopes of winning the league title.

    And their reign over the Champions League, which they had won an unprecedented three straight seasons, ended just days later thanks to a shock 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ajax.

    With the club in turmoil Kroos is said to be considering his options as he looks to rejuvenate his career.

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