Toni Kroos said that “nobody was happy” at Real Madrid regarding his decision to retire from football last season.
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Kroos speaks on his retirement
In an interview with The Athletic, the German international revealed how he came to the decision to end his career.
“It was shortly before May, but not much earlier. At the end of March or early April. I had been hesitating for three or four months, but that’s how I am: when I make a decision, that’s it,” he said.
Kroos, 34, said he first told his decision to Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti before he disclosed it to the entire club.
The midfielder added that he had a great conversation with the club about his decision to hang up his cleats.
“They always made it clear in the meetings we had that I could announce it [retirement] whenever I wanted to.”
“Yes, yes. It’s not a secret. The decision process was sad and happy at the same time. It was the end of a very nice cycle, with very nice people, in the biggest club there is and with so much success,”
“Nobody was happy” when Kroos retired
However, Kroos revealed that nobody in Real Madrid was happy when he decided to call it quits.
“Nobody was happy. Some couldn’t believe it because they said it wasn’t the right time because of the level I was playing at,” he said.
“Despite trying to convince me, they all knew they were not going to change my mind.”
Fans at the Santiago Bernabeu paid tribute to the German international during his final match with Real Madrid.
Kroos described it as the perfect send-off.
“But I was also happy to see what I had achieved, how people said goodbye to me, for example in the Bernabeu. It’s very difficult to explain. I didn’t expect that much. A farewell yes, but you can’t expect something like that.”
