LaLiga: I left Real Madrid despite Mbappe’s arrival – Kroos

Toni Kroos has said he was not tempted to delay his retirement to play with Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid.

However, the 24-year-old admitted it “wasn’t easy” to inform manager Carlo Ancelotti he had decided to leave the LaLiga club.

Kroos retired from football this summer, after winning 23 trophies in a decade at Madrid and competing with Germany at Euro 2024.

“The decision didn’t depend on if a player was arriving or leaving,” Kroos told Marca when asked if he’d considered staying at Madrid to play with Mbappé, who agreed a five-year contract in June.

“It was my decision. 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.”

LaLiga: I left Real Madrid despite Mbappe’s arrival – Kroos