Experienced midfielder Toni Kroos recently announced his retirement after the end of EURO 2024. Below are 5 players who can replace the German star at Real Madrid. La Liga 2023/024 match scheduleLa Liga rankings 2023/2024
#1TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (LIVERPOOL)
This seems like a very unlikely choice, but there is hardly a better passer than Trent Alexander-Arnold in world football today. Although he has spent most of his career at right-back, former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has tested him in midfield in recent months with positive results.
Real Madrid has shown interest in the Red Brigade’s vice-captain, who has contributed 7 goals in 28 Premier League matches this season. There is no guarantee that he will want to leave Anfield. However, the England international’s contract expires in a year and anything can happen.
#2ENZO FERNANDEZ (CHELSEA)
There have been connections between Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and the Santiago Bernabeu team. Although the 2022 World Cup champion did not have the best season with the Blues, Los Blancos still paid special attention to him.
Enzo only scored 3 goals and provided 2 assists in 28 Premier League matches under Mauricio Pochettino. However, he was an important player in Argentina’s World Cup victory and remains a mainstay in the 2024 Copa America.
With Enzo often playing in a deep-lying midfielder role similar to Toni Kroos, Madridistas can completely trust that he is capable of replacing the German star.
#3ALEXIS MACALLISTER (LIVERPOOL)
Alexis MacAllister is the second Liverpool player and second Argentine player on this list. He is also a pillar in the Albicesleste’s World Cup championship and has maintained high form since moving to Liverpool from Brighton in the summer of 2023.
Last week, The Sun revealed that Real had targeted Mac Allister in the summer of 2025 because they believed that both Kroos and Modric would stay for another year. However, the German midfielder suddenly announced his retirement, so Los Blancos will have to speed up the process of asking for Mac Allister.
#4FLORIAN WIRTZ (BAYER LEVERKUSEN)
Although only 21 years old, Wirtz has become a pillar of Bayer Leverkusen. He played the most important role in the German club’s unbeaten season in all competitions.
In the 2023/24 season, Wirtz scored 18 goals and had 20 assists in 47 matches in all competitions. This great performance has attracted the attention of many big clubs, including Real Madrid.
#5JUDE BELLINGHAM (REAL MADRID)
In addition to finding targets in the transfer market, Real can also use the same factors available in the squad to replace Kroos. That’s Bellingham.
The English star played extremely well as an attacking midfielder with 23 goals and 12 assists in 40 matches in all competitions. But when he was at Borussia Dortmund, he mainly played as a deep-lying central midfielder and scored a total of 12 goals in the Bundesliga in 3 years.
Bellingham will not have much difficulty moving to Kroos’ position, especially in the context that Real’s attack will have Mbappe.