Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder prefers different position now, could impact renewal
According to reports from Sergio Santos, Toni Kroos now feels more comfortable playing as a pivot as opposed to the role of an interior, where he made his name.
Over the years, the German international has established himself as one of the most complete interior midfielders in the modern game. The combination of his distribution and vision, coupled with his smart movements, make him adaptable to any system in the world.
However, Kroos is now becoming a fan of the pivot role. Given the reduced ground to be covered in defensive midfield, he sees it as the right profile to mould into for the final stretch of his career.
Moreover, it gives him more involvement on the ball than he would receive as an interior.
One of the biggest factors influencing the former Bayern Munich man’s decision is his ageing body. Kroos realises that he no longer has the steam to operate in advanced positions through long games and thus contemplates switching his role.
While it may be a good decision on a personal level for the player, this comes as bad news for Real Madrid. After all, it is expected to have massive repercussions on the decision over his future.
Kroos is aware that Real Madrid have the defensive midfield position covered. Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga are both capable of excelling in the position, leaving little, if any, room for him to enter.
The veteran has always maintained that he would retire at the highest level at Real Madrid. With the pivot role out of the question at Santiago Bernabeu, Kroos could well leave in the summer if he feels he does not have enough in his tank to play advanced.
Dani Ceballos is one of the players who has Real Madrid on the fence after his recent resurgence. The club appeared certain to part ways with the player during the commencement of the 2022/23 season but no longer find the decision as straightforward.
According to reports from MARCA, Real Madrid are in no hurry to renew Ceballos’ contract. Though his deal runs out in the summer, the Merengues prefer to focus fully on the competitions they are alive in instead of entering auctions for his renewal.
Ceballos has given Los Blancos the signal that his priority is to stay and is waiting for an offer from the board. However, nobody from the administration has contacted him yet.
Sniffing a moment of opportunity, Atletico Madrid have entered the scene and conveyed their interest in signing the midfield star. Los Rojiblancos have already called his entourage twice in recent weeks and a move away from the Bernabeu cannot be ruled out.
At 26 years of age, the Spaniard wishes for regular starts and playing time. It would be difficult for such demands to be met in Real Madrid owing to the sheer number of young prodigies rising in the middle of Los Blancos.
Come next season, Ceballos could be lost in the mix of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and veterans like Toni Kroos, while Jude Bellingham could also arrive.
Ceballos has made 19 appearances for the defending champions in La Liga this season, providing one assist in that duration. At just 10 starts and 44 minutes averaged per game, however, his role is clearly centred around the bench.
Moving to Atletico Madrid could thus work well in his favour for he is almost guaranteed playing time in Simeone’s system which is in dire need of a quality attacking midfielder.
The player is currently on international duty with La Roja for the Euro qualifiers. In the team’s opener against Norway, he came on at the hour mark and made a strong cameo with three key passes and a big chance created.
