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<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="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"channelId":"92686d1e-5985-40e1-80f3-6f5a54f55b39","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><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

Champions League

Real Madrid

Salzburg

<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

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