The European champions have a host of top-quality midfielders at their disposal, but none are capable of replicating the retired Germany international

Apparently nobody was happy. At least, that's what Toni Kroos claimed.

In an interview with in October 2024, Kroos spoke extensively on his shock decision to retire at the end of last season. When it was first announced, on May 21, Kroos was in the midst of his best season in years – maybe even his best ever. He was 34, and the beating heart of Real Madrid's midfield. Yes, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr were bagging the goals, but Kroos paced everything. And despite the fact that his contract was due to expire in the weeks that followed, there was a sense that he could keep going. Madrid made it no secret that an extension was available, if he wanted it.

But Kroos declined. He had made his mind up; his footballing career was over. In a total embodiment of the proverb that was pushed into the spotlight by Jamie Carragher a few weeks before: Kroos had left the football before the football left him.

And it made sense in a way. The only way from here was down. Madrid were ushering in a new era of young, athletic superstars. Kroos was hanging his boots up while he still had something left to give.

Six months on, and Madrid must be wishing that they had been able to change his mind. Los Blancos really should be running away with La Liga – and pushing towards the top of the table in the revamped Champions League. Instead, they are floundering on both fronts.

The reasons for that are many. Kylian Mbappe hasn't jelled with his new team-mates, Vinicius and Rodrygo have picked up injuries and the defence has been a mess. But central to it all is the missing piece, the regista who controlled everything now watching from afar. There are many problems at Santiago Bernabeu, but Madrid miss Kroos more than anything else.

Getty Images SportSigns of a slide

Madrid endured a poor season in 2022-23 – at least by their standards. They failed to win La Liga and bowed out of the Champions League to a rampant Manchester City in the semi-finals, with one of the main issues that year being the midfield. New signing Aurelien Tchouameni never fully settled, and after a mixture of injuries and personal issues, was forced out of the side. Kroos ended up playing as a No.6 – with usual bundle of energy Eduardo Camavinga stuck out at left back.

Kroos, for the first time in his career, was given the runaround. He was 32 at the time, and didn't possess the pace or athleticism of his team-mates. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and the individual errors added up, while some of his positioning was woeful. Madrid were constantly caught in transition, and by the end of the season, there were some calls for Kroos to retire. And with just one year remaining in his contract, few would have blamed him.

But he stayed all the same, and there was a sense from the summer that something might be brewing. Kroos had a swagger and cockiness about him, calling out players for making moves to Saudi Arabia while suggesting that new arrival Bellingham might not start right away. Brash? Certainly. But it was clear that Kroos meant business.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRemarkable turnaround

And so it proved, as Kroos was a man revived in 2023-24, benefitting from the change of system brought about by Bellingham's signing that led to Ancelotti deploying a four-man midfield. The England international's goals grabbed the headlines, but Bellingham's work-rate was also immense, meaning Madrid finally had legs in the middle. Federico Valverde's drop into a deeper role, meanwhile, meant that Kroos had less ground to cover. The balance was there; all Kroos had to do was pass.

And boy can Kroos pass. His numbers weren't just the best in the world; they were some of the most impressive that the game had ever seen. Per , he was in the 99th percentile among all midfielders in pass completion percentage, passes attempted and progressive passes last season. Everything ran through him, while his attacking numbers also spiked. He registered his most assists (10) for four years and his shot-creating actions also went up.

Getty Images SportDecisions to make

Kroos supposedly thought about continuing his career for a while. He admitted later on that although he had been considering retirement since the start of 2024, it took him until April to make a decision, and a further month to fully inform the club.

The reasons for that are perhaps many. His performances were immensely promising, and Madrid weren't about to lose anyone else in central midfield. Bellingham could only get better, while Valverde and Luka Modric were both also set to stick around.

And on a more personal level, there was other football to be played. Julian Nagelsmann had recalled him to the Germany squad for Euro 2024, which in turn had led to an upturn in their performances. As it turned out, had they not run into Spain in the quarter-final, there was every chance that the hosts could have won the whole thing.

Even after he announced his retirement, Kroos was repeatedly asked about the potential of reversing his decision. Surely, he couldn't walk away from Germany team, with Nagelsmann penning a long-term contract. And with Mbappe on the way, who could resist the chance to play at least some part in Madrid's new era? But he stuck to his guns all the same.

Getty Images SportThe heir apparent

In Valverde, Madrid thought they had a ready-made replacement. Kroos made a show of giving Valverde his No.8 shirt after Madrid won the Champions League final at Wembley – effectively declaring the Uruguayan his heir.

It felt like the right call, too. Valverde is a different kind of player, but his versatility and technique can't be denied. There had been a sense that he was always meant to be a deeper-lying player, with circumstances and the team's other needs preventing him from playing in his best spot.

The reality has been far different. Valverde isn't Kroos. The South American is frantic, an all-action midfielder if there ever was one. He is far more comfortable shooting from 30 yards than controlling the tempo of the midfield. He would rather run with the ball than pass it to someone else.

Crunch the numbers and it's clear. Valverde is in the 83rd percentile for pass completion percentage and 71st for progressive passes. This is not necessarily an indictment on him; he is a very good footballer, but he is not the same type of player as one of the game's greats.