Real Madrid ended their championship with another crushing victory, this time against Alavés (5-0). A match with no sporting stakes but allowed the Merengues to celebrate their title with their supporters.
As in every match since Madrid’s consecration, the Santiago Bernabéu crowd gave a special ovation to their heroes. Among them, Toni Kroos, nearing the end of his contract, was particularly cheered. The crowd took the opportunity to ask him to stay.
Toni Kroos experienced a particularly emotional moment on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabéu against Alavés. As the Merengue club celebrated their Spanish championship title won ten days ago with a ‘manita,’ the Madrid crowd made it clear to the German how much of an icon he had become for the club.
The German midfielder, whose contract expires on June 30, is the subject of much interest. His future at Real Madrid is uncertain, and the Madrid crowd wanted to make it known that they desire to see him continue to wear the white shirt. “Toni, stay, stay!” chanted the supporters as the Merengue number 8 stepped onto the field to face Alavés (a 5-0 victory). A resounding ovation that speaks volumes about Toni Kroos’s importance within the Madrid squad. At 34 years old, the former Bavarian has become over the years one of the pillars of this team, an indispensable player in Carlo Ancelotti’s eyes.
From the first minutes of the match, chants of “Toni, stay, stay” echoed from the stands of the Bernabéu. A clear and unanimous message for a stalwart who has marked the club’s history in recent years. The tribute didn’t stop there. At the end of the match, in the locker room, his teammates added to it. According to Defensa Central, Lucas Vázquez, Joselu, and many others joined in the supporters’ chant to convince Toni Kroos to extend his Madrid adventure. Faced with these tributes, the German international responded with humor: “I’m thinking about it, I’m thinking about it…” A vague response that may not necessarily reassure Real Madrid supporters.
A situation similar to last year’s
Indeed, Toni Kroos’s situation is similar to what he experienced a year ago. At that time, his contract was also expiring, leaving doubts about his future. But the player ultimately decided to extend for an additional season, as Nacho Fernández and Luka Modric had done.
A scenario that could well repeat itself this year. Because despite his advanced age for a midfielder, Toni Kroos remains one of the most important elements of the Merengue squad. His high-level performances, vision, and sense of the game still make him one of the best midfielders in Europe. We still remember his sublime pass to Vinicius Jr. against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
This explains the ovation received by the player on Tuesday night. At the Bernabéu, they don’t want to see Toni Kroos leave the club this summer. A true idol of the Madrid supporters, the German has become over the years one of the iconic faces of Real Madrid.
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