Wirtz good enough for Real Madrid, says Kroos
Robin Bairner
- 5 Sept 2022 10:58 BST
- 3 min read
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has tipped Bayer Leverkusen youngster Florian Wirtz to one day play for the Bernabeu club.
Wirtz has long been earmarked as one of the outstanding young talents of German football, with the 19-year-old presently on the sidelines because of a serious knee injury.
His potential, though, is undoubted. Before being laid up last season in March, he had scored 10 goals and created 14 more for Leverkusen.
Naturally, his career has stalled but Kroos has faith that it will get back on track soon enough, and he has earmarked the teenager to make it all the way to the top of the game.
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Speaking to the OMR podcast, he said: “Players who have potential to play for Real? I like Florian Wirtz.
“We have Federico Valverde & Eduardo Camavinga, who already play a really good role with us and are definitely players who will shape the next few decades.”
Real Madrid ‘the best thing that could have happened to me – Kroos
Meanwhile, the former Germany international midfielder has spoken of the challenge of moving to Real Madrid.
“You arrive at the biggest club in the world and you have to function almost immediately. That means in your private life you must organise everything and at the same time be fully present from the start. On your first day on the pitch, you must be there as if you’ve spent the last 10 years there. Thank God it worked out well. In short, it was the best thing that could have happened to me,” he said.
“I've been at Real Madrid for eight years and there was closeness with president Florentino Perez from day one. I know that in these eight years, he hasn't thought for a second about selling me. At that time I came for 'only' €25 million, surely he could have sold me later for more money?”
Kroos is expected to be present for Real Madrid when they tackle Celtic on Tuesday as they open up their campaign to win a 15th Champions League title.
