Real Madrid News
Real Madrid interested in €60 million-rated La Liga midfield hero – report
Real Madrid will enter the market to reinforce multiple positions in the summer transfer window, with the centre-back and right-back positions being top priorities.
At the same time, it appears likely that Los Blancos could look to strengthen their midfield department with a replacement for Toni Kroos as well as a holding player, given that Aurelien Tchouameni’s performances have been quite unconvincing this season.
Martin Zubimendi on the agenda
To that end, MARCA journalist Jose Felix Diaz (via RubenMartin YouTube) reports that Real Madrid have their sights set on Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi as a transfer target.
Zubimendi, 25, is one of the best midfielders in La Liga and has been a consistent performer for La Real for the past few seasons.
Other top teams like FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal have held an interest in the Spaniard while Liverpool were also admirers.
It now appears that Real Madrid have also joined the list and are eager to sign Zubimendi, potentially in the summer of 2025.
However, the journalist specifies that there has been no movement in that regard from the Merengues thus far.
Zubimendi has a contract with Real Sociedad that runs until the summer of 2027 and has constantly maintained that he is happy at the Basque outfit.
Whether he would be tempted by the possibility of making the switch to Real Madrid remains to be seen.
For now, though, there is tentative interest in the Spanish international from the champions of Spain and Europe although no movements have been made.
*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
