Toni Kroos recently opened up about his retirement and time at Real Madrid, sharing insights into his decision to leave the sport.
What Led to Retirement?
Kroos explained that he always aimed to finish his career at the highest level, and for now, he feels good about his decision.
He humorously noted that if he were a tennis player, he would have had more control over his career.
Reflections on Real Madrid
Kroos praised Real Madrid's strategy in handling transitions within the squad, saying they always had a plan in place to replace world-class players.
"Real Madrid have always done things very intelligently. Whenever we had to replace world-class players, a young player was already prepared. The pieces fit together," he noted.
On Cristiano Ronaldo
Kroos spoke about his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, highlighting the Portuguese star's remarkable work ethic and passion for scoring goals.
According to Kroos, Ronaldo's drive to constantly improve and score became a positive addiction for him.
"Cristiano was always there when I arrived at training and still there when I left. We all want to win titles and score goals, but for him, scoring goals was a positive addiction."
Kroos also expressed his belief that individual awards are unnecessary in a team sport like football.
Team Success Over Individual Awards
He emphasized that the success of any player is deeply connected to the team, and without the support of teammates, individual accomplishments would hold little value.
"Individual awards seem completely unnecessary to me. Football is a team sport. Without the team, the individual would be nothing," he said.
And as Kroos looks back on his career, he remains content with his decision to retire, knowing he left the sport on a high note.
But he also acknowledges that he might question his decision in the future.
So for now, Kroos is enjoying his retirement, and his insights into his time at Real Madrid and his teammates like Cristiano Ronaldo provide a unique perspective on the sport.