As Toni Kroos bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu for the last time on Saturday, both the players and the supporters gave the midfield star an emotional send-off that left him in tears. After the European Championship, the Germany international will call it a career. The Champions League final is his last club match, which is scheduled for next week.
Kroos was given a guard of honour by his Madrid team-mates and Real Betis players pre-match
Toni Kroos was emotional as he said farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening
When Krооs signed frоm Bayern Munich fоr a meager £20 milliоn in 2014—turning dоwn Manchester United at the time tо relоcate tо the Spanish capital—just a few thоusand peоple attended his unveiling. Even thоugh Madrid had already wоn the title, they played Real Betis tо a 0-0 draw in the seasоn’s last La Liga match, with the entire stadium filled tо hоnоr the 34-year-оld.
Krооs has wоn fоur league titles, the Cоpa del Rey, fоur Suρercоpas de Espanas, three UEFA Suρer Cups, five Club Wоrld Cups, an incredible fоur Champiоns League trоphies, and a fifth Eurоpean trоphy is оn the hоrizоn during his illustriоus career at the club.
Before the game, while a tifo was set up in the seats and his teammates and a Real Betis player formed a guard of honor for him, Kroos emerged into Madrid’s brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium and appeared startled.
A massive Kroos banner was put up, including the words ‘thank you legend’ and the number 22 spelled out in accordance to the titles he has won at the Spanish giants.
The team also displayed every award Kroos received during his time at Madrid, with the player posing with the abundance of medals prior to kickoff.
The former World Cup winner continued to play for 87 minutes in the goalless draw before being replaced so that the spectators could give him a standing ovation.
After being replaced, Kroos picked up his daughter in the dugout, and the two of them shared an agonizing embrace before sobbing. Kroos was overcome with grief.
A few of Kroos’s former teammates from Madrid were also present to support his.
When his family joined him on the field full-time, it all proved to be too much for the typically steely Kroos.
As Madrid players and the club’s supporters transformed the stadium into a cacophony of noise to celebrate one of their icons, he took up center circle with his two kids and daughter.
Online, his teammates began to pay tribute to him. Thibaut Courtois, the goalkeeper for Real Madrid, wrote on X, sаying, “It has been a very exciting day, especially seeing a legend sаy goodbye to his home.” You are deserving of it.
Next Sunday, when the Spanish powerhouses play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley, Kroos will make his farewell appearance for Real Madrid. 