Toni Kroos wants to end playing career at Real Madrid

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 28 November 2016

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos already has one eye on retirement in six years' time, at which point he believes he will be past his peak performance levels.

Toni Kroos has revealed that he would never consider joining Barcelona and could instead hang up his boots for good when his current Real Madrid deal expires.

The Germany international penned a new long-term contract at the Bernabeu last month, which will keep him in place until 2022 should he see it all the way through.

Kroos, who joined Los Blancos from Bayern Munich in 2014 for a fee of around £20m, wants to bow out of the game at the age of 32 when he believes he will be 'past his best'.

"I do not envisage going to Barcelona," he told to Kicker when asked whether he could ever join the likes of Michael Laudrup, Luis Enrique, Luis Figo and Ronaldo in crossing the El Clasico divide. "There are certain transfers you simply don't do. This has a lot to do with respect. Respect for tradition and the fans.

"I will have reached 32 at the end of the contract. I do not forecast playing until 38 or 39. At 32 one has already given his best years in football and as for physically it seems a good age to quit, but I do not want to commit to what might happen between now and six years' time.

"Real Madrid is my club. In the last two-and-a-half years I have grown in a sporting sense and personally. From the first day I found a positive response from teammates, fans and coaches."

Kroos has six goals and one assist in 11 La Liga appearances for Madrid this term, while also contributing three goals for national side Germany this year.