Former Real Madrid manager Jupp Heynckes has said he is not surprised by how well Toni Kroos has settled into the side.
The 24-year-old signed for the 10-time Champions League winners from Bayern Munich in the summer, straight after winning the World Cup with Germany. And he has won plaudits in the press in Spain for some outstanding performances that have quietened early season talk suggesting the sale of Xabi Alonso to the Bavarian outfit was a mistake.
Speaking to Perform, Champions League-winning boss Heynckes said Kroos was destined to play for Los Blancos as he has everything in his game to perform at the highest level.
“Kroos is playing magnificent football,” Heynckes stated. “It’s his destiny to play there. He has a leading role as a playmaker in the midfield of Real Madrid and that’s a huge achievement because only world-class footballers are playing there.
“The team accepts him, he’s wonderfully integrated. You cannot play the position Kroos plays in defensive midfield besides Luka Modric better than he does.”
The 69-year-old former boss added that he has spoken to Kroos to make sure he is ok and dealing with the pressure of playing for the world’s biggest club.
“I called him, I sent him messages to congratulate him. It’s really fantastic, particularly if you consider the pressure there is in Madrid.”
alonso is now a history.kroos is the MAN.hala madrid.