Real Madrid News
Legendary Real Madrid midfielder will step aside ‘when his importance decreases’
Toni Kroos has been among the best midfielders in the world for more than a decade now, but the second half of last season proved that he is no longer indispensable for Real Madrid.
Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde are on the verge of breaking through the first team and were arguably more critical for Carlo Ancelotti during their run to the Champions League title.
In what could be good news for the duo, AS have reported that Kroos will wait before extending his contract, which runs until the summer of 2023. He would be willing to step aside if he feels his importance is decreasing in the team.
The German midfielder has already retired from the national team, and it will not be particularly surprising should he decide to retire by next year.
It does give him a significant advantage over his midfield competitors as they will be competing in the World Cup this year, putting significant physical strain on their bodies in what is a long season.
The 32-year-old played 28 games in the league last season, scoring one goal and setting up three more. While his performances took a significant drop during the second half of the campaign, he has looked sharp during pre-season, especially against Juventus.
He will have to mirror that display through the 2022/23 season in order to protect his spot in what Ancelotti has referred to as the ‘Bermuda Triangle’.
Kroos has assured Madrid fans in the past that he wants to retire wearing Real’s kit, but this season could be the beginning of the end for the midfielder.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
