Toni Kroos has revealed that he was close to joining a Premier League club, but the deal fell through after a managerial change.
Kroos, who retired this summer, shared that he had an agreement to join Manchester United from Bayern Munich in 2014. At the time, David Moyes was United’s manager and had been in discussions with Kroos to secure the move.
However, just as the negotiations were progressing, Moyes was dismissed and replaced by Louis van Gaal. The new management decided not to pursue Kroos, leading to the collapse of the deal. Instead, Kroos went on to sign for Real Madrid.
In an interview with SPORT1, Kroos explained: “In 2014, before joining Real Madrid, I had an agreement with Manchester United. But when they replaced Moyes with Van Gaal, both sides decided to step away from the deal.”
Shortly after, Real Madrid entered the picture, with manager Carlo Ancelotti convincing Kroos to join the club. Reflecting on the move, Kroos said: “The World Cup started, and Ancelotti reached out – that sealed it.”
Kroos went on to have an illustrious career with Real Madrid, winning five Champions League titles, multiple domestic and international honors, and forming a legendary midfield trio with Luka Modric and Casemiro.
Kroos retired from professional football following Germany's elimination from Euro 2024, leaving behind a legacy that included numerous titles and individual accolades.