Real Madrid News
Real Madrid set €50 million upper limit for the signing of 23-year-old Chelsea attacker
Kai Havertz has endured a difficult spell at Chelsea since his €80 million move in September 2020. The former Bayer Leverkusen star is one of the brightest prospects in world football in his own right, yet his performances in London leave his future in a cloud of uncertainty.
Pressing the restart button at this stage in his career could do Havertz a world of good. A departure is not ruled out given Chelsea’s need to sell players and Real Madrid are said to be one of the many clubs pursuing his signature.
According to reports from SPORT1, Los Blancos are still interested in the German international. However, they do not wish to pay more than €50 million for his signature. Chelsea, on the other hand, demand a fee of €60 million without bonuses.
Havertz has multiple options on his table but is currently holding them off in anticipation of a move from Real Madrid. After all, It is his desire to don the white colours.
A player of his quality would fit into this Real Madrid team like a hand in a glove. However, the Merengues have their priorities set and the need of the hour is an out-and-out centre-forward. Any other position occupies second-tier importance.
Earlier today, reports stated that the Merengues were no longer interested in Havertz and that his signature was completely ruled out for a combination of sporting and economic reasons.
The U-turn could be down to Toni Kroos’ influence. The German star knows Havertz well and sees him as an ideal fit for Los Blancos’ attack. Given his close association with Carlo Ancelotti, Kroos’ words come with significant weightage.
In 35 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in the 2022/23 campaign, the 23-year-old scored seven goals and provided one assist. Further, he averaged 1.1 key passes per game and created five big chances.
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.
