Real Madrid weaken themselves by not buying a replacement for Kroos

Since Kroos retired, Real Madrid has not found a replacement.

Real Madrid had a summer transfer window of 2025 with many notable moves, but almost all revolved around defense and part of the attack. They recruited young center back Huijsen, brought in Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right wing and Carreras on the left.

Up front, young talent Mastantuono appears as a versatile piece, able to drift to the right or play as a number 10. But in the area considered the “heart” of the game - the central midfield - the royal team has not had any additions, even though that is where the biggest void was left after the departure of Toni Kroos.

Kroos is not just a talented midfielder, but a rhythm keeper, a space unlocker and sometimes an invisible shield in the control game that Real Madrid always aim for. Ever since he announced his retirement after Euro 2024, the question “Who will replace Kroos?” has been hanging over the technical meeting rooms at Valdebebas. And so far, the answer is still unclear.

Coach Xabi Alonso - who knows the value of a holding midfielder - had Zubimendi in his sights, but the Bernabeu hierarchy were not convinced. Zubimendi eventually joined Arsenal, and Real Madrid, rather than respond with an alternative, chose to stand still.

The problem is not a lack of targets. Rodrigo Hernandez, the current Ballon d'Or winner, was once the top priority. Sources close to the matter even confirmed that Rodrigo also intended to join Real.

But a serious hamstring injury, coupled with City’s 29-year-old age and the huge fee they are demanding, means that prospect is out of reach. The likes of Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Angelo Stiller and Vitinha are all out of reach – either because of their price tag, limited influence or simply because they don’t fit the coaching team’s vision.

Arda Guler is talented, but cannot replace Kroos.

And so Real Madrid once again returned to the “no-show” philosophy – a caution that has become a hallmark of the team under Florentino Perez. This view is not without reason: the current squad still has names that can develop, from Tchouameni to Camavinga, Valverde or even Arda Güler – who is being restructured to play deeper as a true “conductor”. They believe that, if clearly defined and placed in the hands of a coach like Alonso, these players can partly compensate for the absence of Kroos.

But top-flight football is not a game of mere “belief”. Just because Tchouameni has not played well does not mean he will definitely play better next season. Just because Güler has talent does not mean he will immediately perform well in a completely new position. And the “no-buy-in-discretion” philosophy cannot ignore the fact that Real are lacking a “brain” in the middle of the pitch – something that was evident last season when they struggled to build up the ball against teams rated lower than them.

Kroos is unique, there is no doubt about that. But if they cannot find someone like Kroos, should Real find someone different from Kroos, but still enough to restore control and stability? That is a difficult problem that Real has not really found a solution to.

And as the new season approaches, Real Madrid's inaction in midfield could be a gamble: either their faith in their existing players will be rewarded, or they will realise that the void left by Kroos cannot be filled by expectations alone.

Source: https://znews.vn/real-madrid-tu-lam-yeu-minh-vi-khong-mua-nguoi-thay-kroos-post1574300.html