'Mabasa better than Haaland & can solve Man City's problems! Give Pirates their title now, but Barcelona should come take Mofokeng'

Saka has been FAILED! Arsenal didn't protect their 'Starboy'

PSL Transfers & Rumours: Chiefs & Chippa set to discuss Ntwari, Nwabali swap deal

Best Betting Sites - Our Top 15 List for South Africa l December 2024

Top 10 Premier League signings of the season so far - ranked

Mbappe handed new nickname at Real Madrid after Sevilla stunner

'Every coach's dream' - Guardiola tipped for sensational Madrid move

 'You're disrupting the team!' Pirates urged to warn Tito & Saleng as key attackers continue to miss important games

Revealed: Man Utd REJECTED Fernandes' offer to pay for staff extras

'Sundowns' Iqraam Messi doing what he does best but Brazilians won't beat Pirates to title'

Mabasa shines as dominant Pirates thrash poor Gallants in nine-goal thriller.

'I'll lose myself' - Amorim explains reasons for Rashford exile

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Kroos retires from football in 2024</li><li>Opens door to Real Madrid return</li><li>Says he is "too close" to Los Blancos</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Toni Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return as ex-midfielder says he is 'simply too close' to Champions League winners

LaLiga

Valencia

Real Madrid

<p>The German hero <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/toni-kroos-retiring-real-madrid-legend-to-hang-up-his-boots-after-germany-euro-2024-campaign/blt7d6390c75be857bb" target="_blank">hung up his boots earlier this year</a>, bringing the curtain down on a glittering, trophy-laden career. Just a matter of months on from leaving Madrid, the 34-year-old has spoken about returning to Los Blancos in some capacity one day - while admitting his relationship with the club is "simply too close".</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He said on his <em>Einfach mal luppen</em> podcast: ”The importance of Real Madrid will always be the same for me. It was a very long, great, successful and also affectionate stage. That will always remain, I will always feel close to Real Madrid, there is no doubt about that. And I will always defend Real Madrid, I will always be on their side. That will not change, the relationship is simply too close.</p><p>“Putting myself publicly in the Real environment is something that I would say is not a relevant issue for me at the moment. For now I would say: no, no matter how closely linked I am to the club. But I am not saying that I will never again in my entire life do something with Real or have anything to do with the club, I would not rule that out, of course. In what role, that will be seen; perhaps I will know better when a few years have passed since the end of my career, in what direction I could imagine something or not, and whether the club can also imagine it or not. But I do not rule out that at some point I may be seen again in some role at Real."</p>

WHAT TONI KROOS SAID

<p>Kroos won practically everything a player could win in football over the course of his many years in the sport. He played for Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Madrid - winning a hatful of trophies along the way - and lifted the 2014 World Cup with his country. After what he did at Madrid, he will likely be welcomed back with open arms.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Kroos, who admitted his wife Jessica was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wasnt-difficult-wife-real-madrid-legend-toni-kroos-reveals-painful-retirement/blt3b99681a80a7b095#cs39dc7b12f1d94a69" target="_blank">relieved he was retiring</a>, did stress that he is "really busy" at present.</p><p>He added: "Anyway, right now I am really busy, completely committed to the projects I have and those I am working on, so I would not currently add anything more. But, as I already said: given my closeness to Real and my relationship with the club, I would never rule out doing something at Real at some point in the future."</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Toni Kroos opens door to Real Madrid return as ex-midfielder says he is 'simply too close' to Champions League winners | Goal.com South Africa

Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos has opened the door to returning to his former club - but not as a player.