Toni Kroos has confirmed that his decision to retire from football was not influenced by Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid.
The German midfielder, who spent a decade at the Spanish club, admitted that informing manager Carlo Ancelotti of his retirement was a difficult task.
Kroos retired this summer after a successful career, winning 23 trophies with Real Madrid and representing Germany at Euro 2024.
When asked about whether Mbappe’s arrival tempted him to extend his career, Kroos stated, “The decision didn’t depend on if a player was arriving or leaving. It was my decision.”
He added, “I knew Mbappé was coming, and I’m glad he did, because he’s going to help the team. He could have come two years ago, but now he’s finally here. But Mbappé didn’t affect my decision.”