Toni Kroos Reveals Manchester United Deal Collapsed Due to Manager David Moyes Was Sacked in Front of Him

Toni Kroos Admits Premier League: Toni Kroos, the legendary midfielder who retired from football this summer, recently revealed that he was on the verge of a Premier League transfer in 2014, but the move collapsed due to a sudden managerial change. The former Real Madrid star confirmed that he had agreed to join Manchester United under then-manager David Moyes, but the deal fell apart when Moyes was sacked by the club.

Toni Kroos and the Failed Manchester United Transfer

In a recent interview with SPORTS 1, Toni Kroos shared the details of his failed move to Manchester United. The German midfielder explained, “In 2014, before I signed for Real Madrid, I had already agreed with Manchester United. It would have been a move from Bayern Munich to United. But then they sacked David Moyes, who I was still sitting on my sofa with in Munich, and brought in Louis van Gaal. Then we both declined with thanks.”

At that time, Kroos was highly regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world and was expected to make a significant impact at Old Trafford. David Moyes had personally reached out to Kroos, and the transfer seemed almost certain. However, the sudden managerial change at Manchester United derailed the deal.

When Louis van Gaal took over as the new manager at Manchester United, he chose not to pursue the transfer, ultimately ending the club’s interest in Kroos. This left Kroos to reconsider his options, and as the talks with United collapsed, Real Madrid seized the opportunity.

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As Toni Kroos prepared for the 2014 World Cup, he received a call from Carlo Ancelotti, then-manager of Real Madrid, and the rest is history. Reflecting on that pivotal moment, Kroos mentioned, “The World Cup started and Ancelotti got in touch, that was it.”

Kroos later confirmed his experience in an interview with The Athletic in 2020, stating, “Moyes came to me expressly, and the contract was basically agreed. But then Moyes was sacked and Louis van Gaal took over. That complicated the matter. He wanted time to form his own project. It had been a long time since I heard anything from Manchester United, and I began to have doubts.”

Toni Kroos’s Incredible Success at Real Madrid

Toni Kroos’s move to Real Madrid turned out to be a career-defining decision. During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Kroos won an astounding five Champions League titles, five Club World Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and four Spanish Super Cups. His presence in midfield, alongside Luka Modric and Casemiro, was instrumental in Real Madrid’s dominance over nearly a decade.

The End of an Era and New Beginnings at Real Madrid

After an illustrious career, Toni Kroos retired from professional football this summer following Germany’s elimination from Euro 2024. In his absence, Real Madrid has ushered in a new generation of midfield talent, including Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham, and Aurelien Tchouameni, signaling the start of a new era at the club.