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Two footballing greats of recent times, Toni Kroos and Pepe, both called time on their careers this summer and appear to be in good spirits following their retirement. The former Real Madrid pair have met up, with Kroos sharing a picture on his social media that would have surely delighted the Real Madrid faithful.
Pepe, 41, announced his retirement after Portugal were eliminated in the Euros quarter-finals against France. Kroos, on the other hand, was offered an extension by the Los Blancos, but turned it down, choosing to retire after the Euros held in his home country.
The two seem to be enjoying their time off, with the former German international even reflecting on how different life is now that they are no longer involved in football. On Instagram, Kroos posted a picture with former Real Madrid teammate Pepe along with a caption that read:
"August vacation is for former footballers."
Pepe was the first to join Real Madrid, signing from Porto in 2007. During his ten-year stay at the club, the defender made 334 appearances and scored 15 goals. He also won three La Liga titles, three Champions Leagues, and two Copa del Rey titles, among other notable honors.
Kroos, on the other hand, moved to Madrid after winning the World Cup with Germany in 2014. Since then, he became an indispensable figure at the club, making 465 appearances over ten years. He also won a multitude of trophies with the Spanish side, including five Champions League titles and four La Liga titles.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admits replacing Toni Kroos is difficult
Real Madrid began their season with another trophy, as they defeated Atalanta 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup. However, they struggled against Mallorca and had to settle for a draw in their La Liga opener.
Despite the attacking talent on display, Los Blancos appeared vulnerable at the back and often lacked control in midfield. The departure of Kroos has left a huge void in the team, and Ancelotti acknowledged that he will be difficult to replace.
"Replacing Toni Kroos is impossible, we don’t look for a replacement. We will always miss him. There’s no one like him. It’s not bad to look for new things. It’s good for concentration," Ancelotti said (via FootballEspana).
The Italian tactician also expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance and believes that his side lacks balance in both midfield and attack.
"I don’t want to make excuses. We just had to do better, with more attitude. You can learn from these games. It’s clear where the problem is. We started the game well, but it wasn’t a good game. We need to defend better. We need more balance," Ancelotti added (via 90min)
Real Madrid will next host Real Valladolid at home on Sunday, August 25, before traveling to face Las Palmas on August 29.
