Real Madrid News
Real Madrid are preparing for the return of former German midfielder next season – report
Among all the veterans who have left Real Madrid in recent years, the departure of Toni Kroos has perhaps hurt the most.
The German’s calm and composed presence in the middle of the park is something Real Madrid have failed to duplicate through younger players such as Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
While Kroos is not coming back from retirement anytime soon, it appears Real Madrid are ready to bring him back to the Bernabeu dugout.
Real Madrid are working on bringing back Kroos
According to Diario AS, Real Madrid are preparing to bring back Kroos, not necessarily as a player but as part of the setup.
For now, Real Madrid are only clear about their desire to bring back the German. His exact role within the club has not been finalised.
The decision has already been made, and Real Madrid are now expected to try and bring back the midfield as part of the club’s sporting structure.
Real Madrid’s goal will be aided by the fact that Kroos shares an excellent relationship with president Florentino Perez and has praised him numerous times.
This relationship could be handy in convincing Kroos to return to football, albeit in a different role. The midfielder has not been involved in any sporting projects since retiring from football in 2024, apart from managing his academy.
Kroos is already well settled in Madrid and often visits the Valdebebas to watch his academy team play against Real Madrid. He has earned the respect of many through his professionalism.
Real Madrid, therefore, want the presence of someone like Kroos in their team next season, especially with the player himself recently hinting at his desire to return to Los Blancos.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
