Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, recently awarded the Golden Player Man 2024 at the Golden Boy event in Turin, shared his thoughts on the current state of Serie A and revealed some intriguing insights about his past and potential future in Italian football.
In an interview with Tuttosport, Kroos commended the rising standards of Serie A, stating, “I think the level has risen significantly in recent years. We see it especially in European competitions. Inter reached the final a couple of years ago, Atalanta won the Europa League against Leverkusen, the newly crowned champions of Germany, and Milan defeated Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. There are several clubs that can compete until the very end.”
The German international also disclosed that during his time in Spain, there was interest from some Serie A teams. However, he admitted, “I never thought about leaving the Blancos. I’ve always liked Italian football: it’s technical, intense, and very tactical. But Real is Real…”
Reflecting on his retirement, Kroos shared, “I’m happy and very busy at the moment: every day I take care of my foundation and the Icon League, but I won’t hide that I miss football sometimes. I’m still in the environment with the Madrid Academy, but in a completely different role than before. I left a sport that I had been practicing since I was six years old; so, it’s inevitable that my life is all built around football. Retirement made me a bit sad, but it was my decision. I wanted to close a chapter of my life to open another. I’m satisfied with what I’ve won, done, and experienced, not just on the field. But yes, there are days when I think about it…”
When asked which Italian team he would play for today, Kroos made a surprising admission: “Not knowing the inner workings well, it would be hard to choose one. Maybe, at this moment, I wouldn’t have minded playing for Inter. They play with confidence, composure, and quality, trying to impose their game against anyone. They’re really strong.”
