Former Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos wrapped up a legendary career this summer at EURO 2024. The 34-year-old is known mainly for his time in Spain, but at a critical juncture in his career, he nearly swapped Bavaria for the rains in England instead.
But one fateful coaching decision made everything change course.
“In 2014, before I signed with Real Madrid, I had already agreed to play with Manchester United,” Kroos said recently on his podcast, Einfach mal Luppen (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “That would have been a move from Bayern to United.
“But then they kicked out David Moyes, who I was sitting on my couch with in Munich, and hired Louis van Gaal. Then we both politely declined.”
The 2014 World Cup winner instead landed with a splash in Madrid at 24 years of age, and there he went on to win a remarkable six Champions League trophies in a glittering career.
