Toni Kroos has admitted that he was “surprised and saddened” by Casemiro ’s decision to leave Real Madrid and join Manchester United this summer.
The Brazilian midfielder ended a trophy-laden nine years in the Spanish capital – where he won five Champions League crowns at the base of a midfield alongside Kroos and Luka Modric. The trio formed a formidable partnership that became kings of Europe on multiple occasions.
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal this summer which led his former teammate Kroos to launch a bizarre rant against players who decided to join the Premier League. The German midfield maestro hinted that players only moved to the division based on monetary incentives.
Kroos said in the comments, that could have been construed as a subtle dig at his former teammate Casemiro – and that of Raphael Varane the previous year: "The Premier League has not won an international title this year.
"Television money has been significantly higher in England for years and yet it hasn't resulted in English teams winning everything. Thank God not all players look only at salary but also at winning."
Kroos has now gone on to clarify his thoughts and feelings on Casemiro’s decision to walk away from Real Madrid over the summer. It was a decision that came the same summer that Aurelien Tchouameni – who operates in a similar deep midfield position to the Brazilian – arrived in the Spanish capital in a big-money move from Monaco.
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Kroos told the Universo Valdano on Spanish TV: "I was surprised by Casemiro's departure. It is true that the rumours started two days before, but here there are always many rumours and many times nothing happens. But when he told me I was sad, because I began to remember all the years with him and the things we win together."
Tchouameni’s signing had appeared to weaken Casemiro’s status in the Real Madrid dressing room while there were no shortage of options for the club in midfield, with Eduardo Camavinga having arrived the previous summer and Fede Valverde displaying strong form this campaign.
Casemiro’s career began at Sao Paulo before he went on to win 18 trophies altogether at the Spanish giants, including three La Liga titles and five Champions League crowns, alongside spending the 2014-15 campaign on loan at FC Porto – before returning to Madrid to de facto replace Xabi Alonso.
