Toni Kroos calls Madrid his ‘true home’, opens up on retirement

Toni Kroos has undoubtedly been one of the great figures of Real Madrid's modern success, especially in his time of dominance in Europe in which the German was able to lift the Champions League trophy up to five times dressed in white. 

However, Toni Kroos decided to hang up his boots at the age of 34 and at the peak of his career last season, something he wanted to explain in an interview with 'Marca'.

"The decision wasn’t made overnight; it was a process. I wanted to be important for the team and not reach a point where people would say my physical level wasn’t the best or that my body was struggling,” he explained.," he said. 

“It was a period of many conversations with my family, especially my wife. You can win many Champions Leagues and La Liga titles, but the farewell that people gave me is something difficult to explain," he added on the matter. 

In addition, the German explained what was the key behind his great performances. "Key to my performances? Self-confidence. I'm not afraid, at least in football, I trust my quality a lot. I don't remember any game in which I've played that made me nervous, or with doubts, I always wanted to go out on the field.

"We have lived through difficult moments here in the ten years. Many titles, but there were also months of difficulties. And if you are not stable I think that there you start to doubt and it is very dangerous to doubt in a club like that. I haven't doubted for a second in these ten years," Kroos shared.

Finally, the German had only words of affection and gratitude to Real Madrid for everything he has experienced there. "Real Madrid has given me a new home. I left my country for the first time with a family, with my wife and 8-month-old son.  And now I’m here with three children, the oldest of whom is 11. We’ve found a home, and that goes hand in hand with your success